How to Collect Child Support

Enforcing child support often is largely a matter of tracking down a delinquent parent and asking the court to order that child support be directly deducted from the parent’s wages. The employer then sends a portion of the parent’s wages to the custodial parent. Other ways to enforce child support include seizing property and placing liens on homes and businesses. A parent who fails to pay child support can be found in contempt of court, which can lead to a fine or a stay in jail. The Child Support Recovery Act of 1992 has made it a federal crime for any parent who lives in a different state than their children not to pay child support under certain circumstances. Punishment can include fines and imprisonment.