What Happens if You Don’t Pay Child Support in California? 2025
By Stephane Quinn | By Quinn & Dworakowski LLP |Child support plays an important role when it comes to providing for the material support of a youth following a divorce. California child support laws also even out the financial burden for the custodial parent, who often takes on a greater portion of the child-rearing costs. Anyone who is new to the process may wonder, “What happens if you don’t pay child support in California?” The state has multiple remedies for violations of these enforceable court orders.
Wage Garnishment
One of the most common enforcement tools used by the state when a parent fails to pay court-ordered child support is wage garnishment. In California, this process is handled through the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), which can issue an Income Withholding Order without the need for a court hearing.
This means that a percentage of the delinquent parent’s paycheck is automatically dedicated and redirected toward the child support arrears. Employers are legally obligated to comply with these orders, which withdraw a set portion of the parent’s paycheck on a regular basis.
Wage garnishments are not limited to wages. They can also be used to intercept tax refunds, unemployment benefits, or even workers’ compensation benefits. In Orange County alone, more than 6,000 child support cases were opened in fiscal year 2024. The state’s goal is to ensure consistent financial support for children, and wage garnishment is a direct way to enforce that responsibility.
Contact By Enforcement Agencies
When child support is missed in California, it may not take long for certain agencies to begin to take action. Local support agencies like Orange County Child Support Services may contact the parent directly to address the delinquency. These contacts serve as a warning and an opportunity to resolve the matter before harsher penalties are imposed.
If voluntary compliance isn’t achieved, enforcement agencies have broad authority under California divorce laws. They may suspend your driver’s license or professional license, report the delinquency to credit bureaus, or place liens on personal property. If you attempt to renew a passport with past-due child support obligations exceeding $2,500, your application will be denied.
California takes enforcement of child support seriously. Given that roughly 80% of single-parent households nationwide are led by single mothers, these efforts are intended to ensure that children receive the financial support they need to meet their basic needs.
Contempt Hearings
The family courts may also play an active role in enforcing child support orders. This typically starts when one parent hires a child support attorney to file a motion for enforcement. Child support cases require the other party to be notified about the hearing so they have time to hire a child support lawyer of their own.
During the hearing, the attorney representing the parent receiving support payments presents evidence showing that the other parent is behind in child support. Both sides can present their evidence before a judge makes a ruling on the matter.
A finding of contempt carries serious legal consequences. Penalties can include community service, fines, and even jail time. The court may also issue additional orders to enforce payment or schedule a formal review of the parent’s financial records.
Anyone called to court to answer for being behind on child support can avoid serious penalties by getting caught up on back payments before the hearing. Although there still may be some form of punishment for falling behind, judges generally see making good on child support payments as a sign of a good-faith effort to comply with the court order.
Judges typically only use contempt when other enforcement methods, like wage garnishment or license suspensions, have failed.
Enforcement through the courts provides a powerful tool for ensuring accountability and protecting the financial well-being of children in California’s family court system.
FAQs
Q: How Much Back Child Support Is a Felony in California?
A: California does not set a fixed dollar amount that makes back child support a felony. Instead, extreme cases of intentional nonpayment may be prosecuted as criminal contempt. This typically requires repeated violations and clear evidence of willful disregard. While rare, felony charges are possible if the court believes you intentionally refused to meet your child support obligations over time.
Q: Does a Father Have Rights if He Doesn’t Pay Child Support?
A: Yes, a father has rights even if he doesn’t pay child support. Unpaid support does not automatically eliminate a father’s legal rights. Custody and visitation are separate from financial obligations. However, consistent failure to pay child support can affect future court decisions. Judges may view nonpayment as a lack of commitment or responsibility, which could influence modifications or enforcement of parenting time arrangements in family court.
Q: How Much Child Support Do You Have to Owe to Go to Jail in California?
A: Jail time is usually reserved for parents who willfully avoid payments and ignore court orders. There’s no fixed dollar amount that leads to jail, but repeated violations, large debts, or contempt of court can trigger incarceration. The courts may give the parent a chance to pay before sentencing. Continued refusal to pay could lead to contempt hearings and other measures that could lead to time behind bars.
Q: Can You Get a Warrant for Not Paying Child Support in California?
A: Yes, you can get a warrant for not paying child support in California. If you fail to pay court-ordered child support, a judge may issue a bench warrant for your arrest. This typically happens if the court finds you in contempt for willfully ignoring your support obligations or failing to appear at a scheduled hearing. A warrant allows law enforcement to detain you. Addressing the issue promptly through legal channels may help avoid further penalties or jail time.
Contact a Trusted Family Law Firm Today
Failing to pay child support in California can lead to serious consequences, ranging from wage garnishment and license suspension to potential jail time in extreme cases. Whether you’ve fallen behind due to hardship or are being wrongfully accused of nonpayment, the legal and financial stakes can be high.
At Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, we help parents resolve child support issues efficiently and with discretion. Backed by Avvo’s Highest “Superb” Rating, our team brings proven insight and relentless advocacy to every case. Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation and protect your rights.
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