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 Maryland, when a parent (the obligor) fails to pay court-ordered child support and falls into arrears, the Office of the Attorney General can take several enforcement actions to ensure compliance with the child support obligation. These actions can include both civil and criminal court proceedings, potentially leading to contempt charges against the non-compliant parent. Additionally, the state may suspend the obligor's driver's license and report the payment delinquency to credit bureaus, which can affect the obligor's credit score. The state also has the authority to deny or suspend the obligor's passport, making international travel difficult or impossible. Furthermore, Maryland can place liens on various properties and assets belonging to the obligor, such as real estate, bank accounts, life insurance policies, retirement plans, and personal injury claims, to recover the owed child support. These measures are designed to compel the obligor to fulfill their financial responsibilities towards their child.