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 Texas, when a parent (the obligor) fails to pay court-ordered child support, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) can take several enforcement actions. The OAG may pursue civil or criminal contempt charges, which could result in fines or jail time for the obligor. Additionally, the OAG has the authority to suspend the obligor's driver's license and other professional licenses. The state can also report the overdue child support to credit bureaus, affecting the obligor's credit score. Passport privileges may be denied or suspended to prevent the obligor from leaving the country to evade child support obligations. Furthermore, the OAG can place liens on the obligor's property, bank accounts, life insurance policies, retirement plans, personal injury claims, and other assets to secure payment of the child support arrears. These measures are designed to compel compliance with child support orders and ensure that children receive the financial support they are entitled to.