The consequences of failing to pay child support on time include interest and penalty amounts assessed by the child support services division of your state’s Office of Attorney General, the department of revenue, or other government agency responsible for enforcing child support payments on behalf of the state. Penalties may also include court action (civil and criminal contempt charges); suspension of the obligor’s driver’s license; reporting the delinquency to creditor reporting agencies; denial or suspension of the obligor’s passport privileges; and liens on the obligor’s properties, bank accounts, life insurance plans, retirement plans, personal injury claims, and other assets.

In Oklahoma, if an individual fails to pay child support on time, the Child Support Services (CSS) division under the Oklahoma Department of Human Services can assess interest and penalties on the overdue amount. The state law allows for interest to be charged on unpaid child support at a rate set by law. Additionally, the CSS has the authority to take enforcement actions, which may include filing contempt of court charges that can be either civil or criminal. Civil contempt can result in fines and jail time until the overdue support is paid, while criminal contempt can lead to more severe penalties. The CSS can also suspend the non-paying parent's driver's license, professional licenses, and recreational licenses. Delinquency in child support payments can be reported to credit bureaus, affecting the obligor's credit rating. The state can deny or suspend passport privileges, and place liens on the obligor's property, bank accounts, and other assets. In severe cases, tax refunds can be intercepted, and the obligor's employer may be ordered to withhold income for child support payments. These measures are in place to ensure that child support obligations are taken seriously and to provide mechanisms for enforcement to support the welfare of the child.