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 Vermont, if an individual fails to pay child support on time, the Office of Child Support (OCS) within the Department for Children and Families can take several enforcement actions. Interest and penalty fees may be assessed on overdue child support payments. The OCS can also initiate court action, which may lead to civil or criminal contempt charges against the non-paying parent, known as the obligor. Vermont law allows for the suspension of the obligor's driver's license and professional licenses, and the state can report the delinquency to credit reporting agencies, potentially affecting the obligor's credit score. The obligor's passport privileges can be denied or suspended, and liens can be placed on their property, bank accounts, and other assets, including life insurance and retirement plans. The state may also intercept tax refunds, lottery winnings, and other government payments to cover unpaid child support. These measures are intended to ensure compliance with child support orders and to protect the financial well-being of children.