California Child Support Enforcement Measures

If a non-custodial parent doesn’t make regular child support payments, he or she is subject to enforcement measures in the State of California to collect regular and past-due payments.

• A “wage assignment” is typically imposed to collect regular and past-due payments directly from the paying parent’s paycheck. Funds are deducted by their employer and remitted directly to the custodial parent.
• Fines and/or possible imprisonment may be imposed by the court
• Court-ordered earnings withholding which can result in up to 50% of the paying parent’s other income being withheld by their employer(s).
• Past-due child support may be collected from federal and state income tax refunds, state or property tax credits, and lottery winnings.
• Liens may be filed against his or her real property or other assets.
• Applications for state issued business, professional and driver’s licenses (for example: cosmetologist, contractor, doctor, teacher, attorney, class A, B, and C drivers licenses) to parents with past due child support payments may be denied for new licenses or renewals. Current licenses may also be suspended or revoked. Compliance with an agreement to pay past-due child support is required for reinstatement.
• Workers’ compensation lump sum payments owed to non-custodial parents may be collected to pay past due child support.