When a parent ordered to pay child support (the obligor) fails to make the payments (is in arrears), the Office of the Attorney General in your state may take one or more actions to enforce the child support obligation. These enforcement actions may include court action (civil and criminal contempt charges); suspension of the obligor’s driver’s license; reporting the delinquency to credit reporting agencies; denial or suspension of the obligor’s passport privileges; and liens on properties, bank accounts, life insurance plans, retirement plans, personal injury claims, and other assets.

In Illinois, when a parent (the obligor) fails to pay court-ordered child support, the Office of the Attorney General can take several enforcement actions. These actions include initiating civil or criminal contempt charges, which may result in fines or imprisonment for the non-compliant parent. The state can also suspend the obligor's driver's license, professional licenses, and recreational licenses. Additionally, the delinquency can be reported to credit bureaus, affecting the obligor's credit score. Passport denial or suspension is another enforcement tool used to prevent the obligor from obtaining a new or renewed passport. The state may place liens on the obligor's property, bank accounts, life insurance policies, retirement plans, personal injury claims, and other assets to secure the owed child support. These measures are designed to compel compliance with child support orders and ensure that children receive the financial support they are entitled to.