Washington D.C. Child Support Nonpayment Response and Legal Procedures

A primary enforcement tool is direct wage withholding. If a noncustodial parent misses two or more payments, the court may order employers or income sources to deduct child support directly from their wages. This process is available through the D.C. Child Support Services Division (CSSD) and is usually automatic once support orders are in place.

When a parent consistently fails to pay, the court may require them to provide security, such as a bond or collateral, ensuring future payment. If the parent cannot or does not provide the security, the court may issue a lump-sum payment order, demanding the delinquent parent to pay a significant portion—or the entirety—of overdue support at once.

The custodial parent may also file a motion for civil contempt. If the court finds the nonpaying parent willfully refused to pay despite having the ability, it may issue a compliance order and set deadlines. Continued refusal may lead to further sanctions.

A simplified outline of legal consequences for nonpayment is:

As a last resort, the custodial parent may request the court to enforce child support via garnishment or seizure of property. This includes freezing bank accounts or initiating a judicial sale of the delinquent parent’s assets. D.C. law allows this under a writ of attachment or execution pursuant to D.C. Code § 16–911 et seq.

The D.C. Child Support Services Division (CSSD), under the Office of the Attorney General, assists custodial parents in collecting unpaid child support. Parents can request wage withholding, initiate enforcement actions, and report persistent noncompliance through CSSD's portal or by contacting the office directly.

Persistent failure to pay child support in D.C. can result in the following legal consequences:

• Civil contempt: Up to 30 days in jail if found willfully noncompliant
• Criminal charges: For serious arrears over $5,000, or failure to pay for more than 1 year, misdemeanor or felony prosecution under federal and local statutes
• License suspension: Driver’s, professional, or recreational licenses may be revoked
• Tax refund intercept: Federal and D.C. tax refunds can be seized to satisfy child support arrears
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These measures are grounded in both federal enforcement authority (e.g., 42 U.S. Code § 666) and local D.C. laws (e.g., D.C. Code § 46-225.01 and following).

If informal attempts and administrative support fail, consider consulting with an attorney familiar with D.C. family law. An attorney can help:

• File contempt motions and enforce orders
• Represent you at CSSD hearings or in Superior Court
• Track assets of the noncustodial parent
• Secure wage garnishments and property liens
• Ensure compliance with both local and interstate child support enforcement laws

Even in cases where the obligor resides outside D.C., federal law and the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) allow enforcement across state lines.