How One Mother Collected $47,000 in Arrears She’d Been Told Were Uncollectable

When Sandra’s caseworker told her the $47,000 in back child support was “uncollectable” because her ex had moved jobs twice and had no assets, she almost believed it. She didn’t know that California child support arrears never expire, accrue 10% annual interest, and become automatic judgment liens on any real property the payer owns or acquires.

What Changed When She Learned the Tools

Sandra found out her ex had purchased a home in another county two years earlier. Under California Family Code Section 17523 and Code of Civil Procedure Section 697.310, the arrears judgment was already a lien on that property by operation of law — she just hadn’t recorded the Abstract of Judgment to make it enforceable against a title search. She recorded it. He refinanced eighteen months later. The title company required the lien to be paid at closing. She collected $51,200 — the original arrears plus accrued interest.

Every California child support case has tools the custodial parent hasn’t fully deployed. The question is which ones apply and in what order. That’s exactly what the California Child Support Recovery System maps out.

Educational use only. Not legal advice. Justice Foundation.