What happens to unpaid child support arrears?

When a parent fails to pay child support in North Carolina, the amount of money owed is referred to as arrears. When a parent is not paying their child support, the state will take a variety of measures to ensure that the amount due is paid. These measures may include wage garnishments, suspension of driver’s licenses, tax refunds withheld, and/or denial of a passport. The state will also seek to collect the money due by placing a lien on any of the non-custodial parent’s property. This means that until the arrears are paid in full, the parent will not be able to sell their property. The court may also sentence a non-paying parent to jail time. The court may order jail time as a punishment, or even as a means of coercing the non-custodial parent to pay the amount owed. Jail time can last anywhere from several days to several months, depending on the amount of arrears owed and the courts determination of the seriousness of the offense. If the non-custodial parent is late on their payments and there are substantial arrears owed, the custodial parent should consult with a family law attorney to determine which legal remedies are available. The law in North Carolina is clear: all parents must provide financial support to their children, and failure to do so can lead to serious consequences.

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What happens to unpaid child support arrears?

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