What happens once support goes unpaid
Enforcement in the United States does not work by charging a penalty per month of nonpayment. It works through a stack of collection tools that switch on as the arrears balance grows, so the first useful step is a clean figure: what was ordered, what was actually received, and the difference. This tool produces that balance and flags the statutory thresholds it crosses.
Income withholding is automatic on nearly all orders, and state agencies can suspend driver, professional and recreational licenses, intercept federal and state tax refunds, report the debt to credit bureaus and place liens. Courts can also hold a paying parent in civil contempt. The size of any contempt sanction is decided by the judge on the facts - it is not a formula, so this page does not predict one.
Basis: income withholding and license suspension come from 42 U.S.C. 666(a)(16) and 666(b); federal tax refund offset from 42 U.S.C. 664; passport denial for arrears above $2,500 from 42 U.S.C. 652(k); and criminal liability from the Child Support Recovery Act, 18 U.S.C. 228, which reaches arrears over $5,000 or unpaid more than a year, and over $10,000 or unpaid more than two years. Thresholds current as of September 2026; state enforcement rules vary.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Whether any sanction is imposed depends on willfulness and ability to pay. Consult a licensed family law attorney or your state child support agency about your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Contempt sanctions are set by the judge based on willfulness, ability to pay and the effort made to comply. Statutes supply the enforcement tools and thresholds, not a dollar formula, so any specific figure would be a guess.
In many states yes, at a statutory rate that varies widely, and some states charge none at all. Because the rate and whether it is mandatory are state choices, arrears interest is not built into this estimate.