WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING TO MAKE MY COURT-ORDERED MONTHLY PAYMENTS?
If you fail to make your court-ordered monthly payments, your right to visit your child will not be taken away from you, but there will be consequences.
Here are some examples:
• Credit reporting
• License suspension
• Court action
• Passport denial
Reporting to the Credit Bureaus
Per state law, the Office of the Attorney general will report how much child support is owed to all three major credit bureaus.
License Suspension
License suspension is not a guaranteed consequence of failing to make your court-ordered payments every month. For instance, you may lose your ability to:
• Drive
• Hunt
• Fish
• Practice your profession
Court Action
Court action is another common consequence of failing to make your monthly payments. In the case of civil contempt, you may be sentenced to a number of days in jail, receive a fine, or be fined and have to go to jail. It is up to the Family Court judge how much you are fined, but you may be fined up to $500 per nonpayment.
Additionally, you may be required to pay your ex-spouse’s attorney fees and court costs.
Passport Denial
The OAG also has the right to deny a non-custodial parent a passport for failure to make court-ordered monthly payments.