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 Wisconsin, when a parent (the obligor) fails to pay court-ordered child support and falls into arrears, the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) has several enforcement tools at its disposal. The DCF can initiate civil contempt proceedings, which may result in fines or even jail time for the non-compliant parent. Criminal non-support charges can also be filed in severe cases. The state can suspend the obligor's driver's license, professional licenses, and recreational licenses. Wisconsin also has the authority to report overdue child support to credit bureaus, which can affect the obligor's credit rating. Passport denial is another enforcement action; the State Department can restrict the issuance of a passport to anyone who owes more than $2,500 in child support. Additionally, the DCF can place liens on the obligor's property, bank accounts, and other assets, including life insurance policies and retirement accounts. These liens can be used to collect overdue child support. It's important to note that while the Office of the Attorney General may be involved in certain legal actions, child support enforcement is primarily handled by the DCF in Wisconsin.