While these laws seem to be of great value, they don't always work as planned. First, the parent with custody has to know where the other parent is living, which in itself isn't always easy to do. Second, even if the parent is found, the court in the state where he lives may modify the amount to be paid, and may be inclined to do so if the parent claims to be out of work or down on his or her luck. And finally, given the number of other cases the courts have to deal with, these cases tend to get relegated to the bottom of the pile. There are other methods available for collecting unpaid child support.
State laws permit support payments to be withheld from a parent's paycheck.
The IRS can withhold a delinquent parent's income tax refund and take other steps such as seizing property, and state revenue departments can also seize tax refunds to satisfy unpaid child support obligations. A parent who refuses to make court ordered child support payments can also be subject to charges of contempt of court and can also face criminal prosecution. In some states, a parent's professional license can also be suspended or revoked for failure to pay required child support. If your child's parent tries to avoid paying support, here's what you can do to force payment. If child support enforcement becomes an issue, it is necessary to have a legal order for child support spelling out the amount of the obligation and how it is to be paid.