Child support is an essential part of raising a child after the child’s parents have divorced. After all, each parent is responsible for taking care of their child’s everyday expenses. It is important that child support payments be made on time and in the entire amount due. Unfortunately, that does not always happen.

There are consequences should a non-custodial parent fail to meet their child support obligations. The Oklahoma Child Support Services office can take action against a parent who fails to pay child support. The consequences can vary.

For example, the non-custodial parent’s wages could be withheld, as could other sources of income, such as Social Security payments, retirement benefits and unemployment benefits. In addition, property including investments and bank accounts could be seized, as could pensions and workers’ compensation benefits. Personal injury awards and lottery winnings could also be seized.

Also, certain licenses could be revoked if the non-custodial parent does not pay their required child support payments. This includes not only a driver’s license, but also professional licenses, fishing licenses and hunting licenses.

A non-paying parent’s passport could be denied if they do not meet their child support obligations. In addition, the OCSS could report the non-payments to the non-custodial parent’s credit bureau. Finally, if necessary, the non-custodial parent could be found in contempt of court if they do not meet their child support obligations.

These consequences are highly undesirable. To avoid them it is important for a non-custodial parent to make sure that they make their child support payments in the entire amount due and on time, per their payment schedule. If a non-custodial is unable to do so for valid reasons, they may seek a modification of the child support order.