How does arrearage affect a child support order?

Arrearage is a legal term that refers to an unpaid debt. In the case of a child support order, arrearage is the amount of unpaid child support owed from prior months or years. In Massachusetts, when a parent fails to pay the required amount of child support, the parent who is owed the money may file a complaint in court for an enforcement of the child support order. When a court finds that a parent is delinquent in child support payments, it will typically order the delinquent parent to pay the full amount of arrearage, plus any interest and late charges associated with the unpaid balance. While the court may also order the delinquent parent to pay the normal ongoing monthly payments in addition to the arrearage amount, it is important to note that any payments applied to the arrearage must be made before any other payments can be applied to the ongoing balance. The payment of arrearage is a serious matter and can ultimately result in a court order for wage garnishment, tax refund offset, suspension of state issued professional or recreational licenses, or even orders of imprisonment. It is important for both parents to be aware of their financial obligations under the child support order, and to adhere to these obligations to avoid any such sanctions and preserve their parental rights.

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How does arrearage affect a child support order?

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