If a parent fails to make child support payments, the other parent may file a motion for contempt to bring the issue before the court. A motion for contempt—as the name implies—is based on the uncooperative party’s contempt for the judge/court’s child support order. Ignoring the court’s order will have serious potential consequences, including loss of custody or visitation rights, and payment of the other parent’s attorney fees and costs in filing the motion for contempt (coercive civil contempt). And in some cases of repeated failures to comply with the child support order, the court may punish the uncooperative parent with jail time (criminal contempt).

In Louisiana, if a parent fails to make court-ordered child support payments, the custodial parent can file a motion for contempt to address the noncompliance. This legal action is taken because the non-paying parent is disregarding the authority of the court and its order. The consequences of being found in contempt can be severe. The court may order various sanctions to compel compliance, including the potential loss of custody or visitation rights, and the non-compliant parent might be required to pay the legal fees and costs incurred by the other parent in bringing the motion. Additionally, for persistent non-payment, the court has the authority to impose jail time, which is a form of criminal contempt. This is intended to serve as both a punishment and a deterrent against further noncompliance. It's important to note that enforcement measures can also include wage garnishments, seizure of tax refunds, suspension of driver's licenses, and reporting to credit bureaus.