How to collect unpaid child support in Maryland

The agency's collection tools, what federal law adds, and a ready letter to ask for enforcement.

Checked against official sources: Oct 25, 2026.

Short answer

Arrears means child support that is past due. Driver's license: 120 days or more out of compliance with the most recent order (since October 1, 2025), and not if your income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level unless support was based on imputed income.

License suspension: Driver's license: 120 days or more out of compliance with the most recent order (since October 1, 2025), and not if your income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level unless support was based on imputed income.
Passport denial: Over $2,500 past due (federal law)

What the agency can do in Maryland

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

Wage withholding
Federal and state tax refund offset
Driver's license suspension
Professional license suspension
Passport denial ($2,500 or more owed)
Bank account match and garnishment
Credit bureau reporting
Administrative liens
Lottery intercept ($150 or more owed)
Unemployment and workers' compensation intercept
Civil contempt

Law: Md. Code, Family Law §§10-119, 10-119.3

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

License suspension in Maryland

Driver's license: 120 days or more out of compliance with the most recent order (since October 1, 2025), and not if your income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level unless support was based on imputed income. Professional license: 120 days or more out of compliance.

Law: Md. Code, Fam. Law §§10-119, 10-119.3

What federal law adds

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 Maryland

A judge can find a parent in civil contempt for not paying when the parent is able to pay, which can include jail.

In nearby states

New Jersey: No interest
West Virginia: 5% a year
New York: 9% a year
Rhode Island: 12% a year

Your next steps in Maryland

Keep a payment record
Keep a log of every payment and every missed payment.
Ask the agency to enforce
If you don't have a case yet, open one with Maryland Department of Human Services, Child Support Administration (CSA) (1-800-332-6347) · Apply online
Tell the agency about income
Leads about income or address speed up collection.
Get the numbers in writing
Ask whether interest is added and how much is owed in total.
Talk to legal aid
Free help: Maryland Legal Aid.

Free help in Maryland

Questions about unpaid support in Maryland

What can the agency do about unpaid support in Maryland?

Arrears means support that is past due. The child support agency can use these tools to collect it: Wage withholding; Federal and state tax refund offset; Driver's license suspension; Professional license suspension; Passport denial ($2,500 or more owed); Bank account match and garnishment; Credit bureau reporting; Administrative liens; Lottery intercept ($150 or more owed); Unemployment and workers' compensation intercept; Civil contempt.

Can a license be suspended for unpaid child support in Maryland?

Can a parent be held in contempt for not paying in Maryland?

A judge can find a parent in civil contempt for not paying when the parent is able to pay, which can include jail.

Related Maryland pages

Sources

Sources

Last checked: Oct 25, 2026.

Federal sources