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 Rhode Island, when a parent (the obligor) fails to pay court-ordered child support and falls into arrears, the Office of the Attorney General has several enforcement tools at its disposal. The state can initiate civil or criminal contempt charges, which may result in fines or even jail time for the non-compliant parent. Additionally, the obligor's driver's license can be suspended, making it illegal for them to drive until they comply with the support order. The state can also report the failure to pay child support to credit bureaus, negatively affecting the obligor's credit score. Passport privileges may be denied or suspended, preventing the obligor from traveling internationally. Furthermore, the state can place liens on various properties and assets belonging to the obligor, including bank accounts, life insurance policies, retirement plans, and personal injury claims, to secure payment of the child support owed.