Child support arrears are past support payments that have not been paid. Many parents without primary custody, called non-custodial parents, are required by the court to provide financially for their child until they reach 18 years of age in Washington. A judge determines the exact monthly or periodic payment amount, then issues a court order. The order will contain how frequently the child support payment must be made, along with the date by which the party must pay. Once that date passes (e.g., the 1st or 15th), the payment is considered late.
There are two types of arrears in Washington:
Assigned: if the custodial parent is on government assistance, the non-custodial parent must make their child support payments to the Division of Child Support (DCS), a state agency. If they fail to do so, the state will attempt to recover compensation for assigned arrears.
Unassigned: the custodial parent did not get public assistance, and the child support payments must be made directly to them. Each missed payment will be combined, and the total amount is called back child support.
Parents can fall behind on child support payments for a variety of reasons, such as disagreeing with the amount owed, losing their job or experiencing other negative changes in their circumstances. Nonetheless, it can put the custodial parent at a financial disadvantage when they are trying to maintain their child’s lifestyle.