How to collect unpaid child support in Arizona

Arrears, interest and enforcement, with a letter to the agency.

Checked against official sources: Oct 25, 2026.

Short answer

Arrears means child support that is past due. 10% a year on unpaid support, starting at the end of the month after the payment was due; interest is simple (charged only on the unpaid support, not on interest).

Interest on unpaid support
10% a year
License suspension
At least 6 months behind and willfully not paying. DCSS first mails a notice; you have 15 days to ask for an administrative review.
Passport denial
Over $2,500 past due (federal law)

What the agency can do in Arizona

Arrears means support that is past due. The child support agency can use these tools to collect it:

  • Income withholding order (including unemployment and workers' compensation)
  • State and federal tax refund intercept
  • Lottery, event wagering and fantasy sports prize intercept
  • Bank levy and liens (lien after 2 months behind)
  • Credit bureau reporting
  • Passport denial
  • Driver's and recreational license suspension (by the court)
  • Professional and occupational license suspension
  • Court judgment for arrears (each missed payment is a judgment by law)
  • Court-ordered bond or security when withholding fails and six months of support is unpaid
  • Petition to enforce in Superior Court

Law: A.R.S. 25-503(B), (I), (M), (N); 25-517; 25-518; 25-510

Ask the agency in writing to collect what is owed: Ask the agency to collect unpaid support

License suspension in Arizona

At least 6 months behind and willfully not paying. DCSS first mails a notice; you have 15 days to ask for an administrative review. For a driver's or recreational license, the court decides after a hearing and may instead allow a restricted work/school driver's license if you are employed 30+ hours a week and sign a payment plan with DES.

Law: A.R.S. 25-517, 25-518

Interest on arrears in Arizona

10% a year on unpaid support, starting at the end of the month after the payment was due; interest is simple (charged only on the unpaid support, not on interest). Past support for the time before an order (retroactive support) that is reduced to judgment on or after September 26, 2008 does not earn interest.

Law: A.R.S. 25-510(E)-(F)

Federal collection tools

  • Tax refunds. The federal government can take a federal tax refund to pay past-due child support. Law: 42 U.S.C. 664
  • Passports. A parent who owes more than $2,500 in past-due support can be refused a passport. Law: 42 U.S.C. 652(k)
  • Pay withholding limit. For support, up to 50% of take-home pay can be withheld if the parent supports another spouse or child, or 60% if not. It is 55% or 65% when support is more than 12 weeks behind. Law: 15 U.S.C. 1673(b)
  • Past-due support. Each unpaid payment becomes a judgment on the day it is due. It can't be lowered later, except back to the date the other parent got notice of a request to change the order. Law: 42 U.S.C. 666(a)(9)

Court action in Arizona

The parent owed support (or DCSS) can file a petition to enforce the order in Superior Court.

In nearby states

What to do now in Arizona

  1. Keep a payment record

    Keep a log of every payment and every missed payment.

  2. Contact the agency

    Contact Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) · Apply online

  3. Give the agency leads

    Tell the agency where the other parent works or lives.

  4. Ask about interest

    Request a written statement of what is owed.

  5. Get help

    Legal aid can help for free: AZLawHelp.org (legal aid) and Community Legal Services.

Free legal help in Arizona

Questions about unpaid support in Arizona

What can the agency do about unpaid support in Arizona?

Arrears means support that is past due. The child support agency can use these tools to collect it: Income withholding order (including unemployment and workers' compensation); State and federal tax refund intercept; Lottery, event wagering and fantasy sports prize intercept; Bank levy and liens (lien after 2 months behind); Credit bureau reporting; Passport denial; Driver's and recreational license suspension (by the court); Professional and occupational license suspension; Court judgment for arrears (each missed payment is a judgment by law); Court-ordered bond or security when withholding fails and six months of support is unpaid; Petition to enforce in Superior Court.

Can unpaid support cost a driver's license in Arizona?

At least 6 months behind and willfully not paying. DCSS first mails a notice; you have 15 days to ask for an administrative review. For a driver's or recreational license, the court decides after a hearing and may instead allow a restricted work/school driver's license if you are employed 30+ hours a week and sign a payment plan with DES.

Can a parent go to jail for unpaid support in Arizona?

The parent owed support (or DCSS) can file a petition to enforce the order in Superior Court.

Is there interest on unpaid child support in Arizona?

10% a year on unpaid support, starting at the end of the month after the payment was due; interest is simple (charged only on the unpaid support, not on interest). Past support for the time before an order (retroactive support) that is reduced to judgment on or after September 26, 2008 does not earn interest.

Related Arizona pages

Sources

Sources

Last checked: Oct 25, 2026.

Federal sources