What happens if a parent does not pay court-ordered child support?

If a noncustodial parent falls behind on child support payments, the custodial parent has options for enforcing it, but they must be carried out through the court. A judge can use income withholding, wage garnishment, interception of tax refunds, liens, or attachments to property to ensure payments are made. A court can take punitive action if these methods are unsuccessful, including license suspension, passport denial, and even jail time.