How to Report Non-Payment of Child Support in Texas

Where to Report Non-Payment in Texas

To report non-payment of child support in Texas, contact the Office of the Attorney General, Child Support Division. This is the state agency that enforces child support orders. You can reach them by phone at 1-800-252-8014, or file a report online through the Texas Attorney General website under the Child Support section.

If your case is already being handled by the Child Support Division (meaning they collected your case when it was established or you asked them to enforce it), they monitor payments automatically. If you have a private child support order — one you arranged without the state's involvement — you will need to contact the Attorney General's office to report the non-payment yourself.

You can also report non-payment to the court that issued the original child support order. Contact the district court clerk's office in the county where the order was signed and ask how to file a motion for contempt of court.

Key Takeaways

• The Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division handles most non-payment reports and can be reached at 1-800-252-8014 or through their website.
• You will need the obligor's (payer's) name, case number, and details about missed payments when you report.
• The state can enforce payment through wage garnishment, tax intercept, driver's license suspension, and contempt of court proceedings.
• If the obligor lives in another state, Texas can use the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act to pursue enforcement across state lines.
• Reporting non-payment does not cost you money, but the process typically takes weeks or months to result in enforcement action.

What Information You Need to Have Ready

Before you contact the Attorney General's office or the court, gather the following details: the obligor's full name, date of birth if you have it, Social Security number or tax ID, current address, and employer name and address. You will also need your case number (found on the original child support order) and the amount of the monthly payment that was ordered.

Have a record of which payments were missed — specific months or dates help the state build an enforcement case. If you have received partial payments, note those too. The more complete your information, the faster the state can locate the obligor and take action.

If the obligor has moved or changed jobs, include that information as well. The state has access to employment databases and can track people across state lines, but current information speeds up the process.

How Texas Enforces Non-Payment

Once you report non-payment, the state has several enforcement tools. The most common is wage garnishment, where money is taken directly from the obligor's paycheck before they receive it. Texas can also intercept state and federal tax refunds and explore them to the debt. Driver's license suspension is another tool — the obligor's license can be suspended until they pay or enter a payment plan.

The state can also place a lien on property the obligor owns, report the debt to credit agencies, and suspend professional licenses (such as medical or law licenses). In cases of significant arrears, the obligor can be held in contempt of court, which can result in jail time.

The Attorney General's office will contact the obligor and attempt to collect. If the obligor claims they cannot pay, the state may modify the order to a lower amount, but this requires a formal request and proof of changed circumstances.

Interstate Enforcement When the Obligor Lives Out of State

If the obligor has moved to another state, Texas still has authority to enforce the order. Texas uses the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA), which allows the state to work with other states' child support agencies to collect payment.

When you report non-payment to the Texas Attorney General, tell them the obligor's current state of residence. Texas will send the case to that state's child support enforcement agency, which will pursue collection using that state's tools. This process takes longer than in-state enforcement — typically several months — but it is still available at no cost to you.

You do not need to hire an attorney or pay a fee to use interstate enforcement. The state handles it as part of the child support system.

What Happens After You Report

After you file a report, the Attorney General's office will send a notice to the obligor demanding payment. If the obligor does not respond or pay within a set timeframe (usually 10 to 30 days), enforcement action begins. Wage garnishment can start within weeks if the obligor is employed and the state has their employer information.

You will receive notice of enforcement actions taken on your case. If a wage garnishment is issued, you may see payments resume within one to two pay periods. If the obligor is self-employed or unemployed, enforcement takes longer and may require a court hearing.

The state will continue enforcement efforts until the full amount owed is paid or the case is resolved through a modification or payment plan. You can check the status of your case by calling the Attorney General's office or logging into the online case management system if you have set up an account.

Filing a Contempt Motion Through the Court

If you prefer to pursue enforcement through the court rather than the Attorney General's office, you can file a motion for contempt of court. This is a legal filing that asks the judge to hold the obligor in contempt for violating the child support order.

To file, contact the district court clerk in the county where the original order was issued. Ask for the forms needed to file a motion for contempt. You will need to describe the missed payments and provide documentation (bank statements, payment records, or the obligor's admission of non-payment).

Filing through the court may result in faster action if the obligor is local, but it requires you to appear in court and may require you to hire an attorney. The Attorney General's office handles this work for free, which is why most people use that route first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay to report non-payment?

No. Reporting non-payment to the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division is free. You do not pay a fee to file a report or to use the state's enforcement tools. If you hire a private attorney to file a contempt motion through the court, you would pay attorney fees, but the state enforcement route costs nothing.

What if the obligor says they cannot afford to pay?

The obligor can request a modification of the child support order if their income has changed. However, they must file the request with the court — straightforward telling you they cannot pay does not stop enforcement. If they file a modification request, the court will review their income and may lower the amount owed going forward, but they still owe the arrears (back payments).

How long does it take to collect after I report?

Timeline varies. If the obligor is employed and the state has their employer information, wage garnishment can begin within two to four weeks. If the obligor is self-employed, unemployed, or living out of state, collection takes longer — often two to six months or more. Tax intercept can take until the next tax season.

Can the obligor go to jail for not paying child support?

Yes. If the obligor is found in contempt of court for willfully not paying child support, they can be jailed. However, jail is typically used as a last resort after other enforcement methods have been tried. The obligor must have the ability to pay — inability to pay due to job loss or illness is different from refusing to pay.

What if I have a private child support agreement, not a court order?

If you have a written agreement but no court order, you will need to file it with the court first to make it enforceable. Contact the district court clerk to learn how to register a private agreement as a court order. Once it is registered, you can report non-payment to the Attorney General's office just as you would with any other order.