When a parent ordered to pay child support (the obligor) fails to make the payments (is in arrears), the Office of the Attorney General in your state may take one or more actions to enforce the child support obligation. These enforcement actions may include court action (civil and criminal contempt charges); suspension of the obligor’s driver’s license; reporting the delinquency to credit reporting agencies; denial or suspension of the obligor’s passport privileges; and liens on properties, bank accounts, life insurance plans, retirement plans, personal injury claims, and other assets.

In Missouri, when a parent (the obligor) fails to pay court-ordered child support and falls into arrears, the Office of the Attorney General has several enforcement tools at its disposal. The state can initiate civil or criminal contempt charges, which may result in fines or even jail time for the non-compliant parent. Additionally, Missouri may suspend the obligor's driver's license, professional licenses, and recreational licenses. The state can also report the overdue support to credit bureaus, negatively affecting the obligor's credit score. Passport denial or suspension is another enforcement action that can be taken to prevent the obligor from obtaining or using a passport when they owe a certain amount of past-due support. Furthermore, the state can place liens on the obligor's property, bank accounts, and other assets, such as life insurance plans, retirement plans, and personal injury claims, to secure the owed child support.