How to collect unpaid child support in New Jersey

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. No interest. New Jersey has no statute adding interest to child support arrears, and the agency does not calculate interest.

Interest on unpaid support
No interest
License suspension
Licenses (driver's, professional, occupational, recreational) can be suspended when unpaid support equals six months of support or more, or court-ordered health coverage hasn't been provided for six months.
Passport denial
Over $2,500 past due (federal law)

What the agency can do in New Jersey

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

  • Income withholding
  • Federal and state tax refund offset (federal: $500+ owed in non-assistance cases)
  • Bank levy and seizure of assets
  • Passport denial ($2,500 or more owed)
  • Credit reporting (over $1,000 owed)
  • NJ Lottery intercept ($600+ winnings)
  • Casino, sports wagering and internet gaming intercept ($40,000+ winnings)
  • Civil awards and settlements intercept
  • Liens and automatic judgments
  • Driver's, professional, occupational and recreational license suspension
  • Bench warrants and court enforcement hearings

Law: NJ Child Support Program, Enforcement page; OCSS IRG New Jersey profile

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

When a license can be suspended in New Jersey

Licenses (driver's, professional, occupational, recreational) can be suspended when unpaid support equals six months of support or more, or court-ordered health coverage hasn't been provided for six months. Probation first sends a notice; you have 30 days to pay in full, show coverage, or ask in writing for a court hearing.

Source: NJ Child Support Enforcement page; OCSS IRG New Jersey profile

Contempt of court in New Jersey

Your Probation child support worker or a private lawyer can ask for an enforcement hearing in Family Court. The judge can order immediate payment, extra payments toward arrears, or arrest if payment isn't made. You can also file a post-judgment motion to enforce.

Interest on unpaid support in New Jersey

No interest. New Jersey has no statute adding interest to child support arrears, and the agency does not calculate interest. Unpaid support does become a judgment automatically.

Source: OCSS Intergovernmental Reference Guide, New Jersey profile

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)

In nearby states

What to do now in New Jersey

  1. Track what was paid

    A simple list of payments received and missed helps the agency.

  2. Contact the agency

    If you don't have a case yet, open one with New Jersey Child Support Program (Division of Family Development, NJ Department of Human Services (1-877-655-4371) · Apply online

  3. Share what you know

    Tell the agency where the other parent works or lives.

  4. Ask about interest

    Ask the agency for the total owed, with any interest.

Free help in New Jersey

Questions about unpaid support in New Jersey

What happens if child support is not paid in New Jersey?

Arrears means support that is past due. The child support agency can use these tools to collect it: Income withholding; Federal and state tax refund offset (federal: $500+ owed in non-assistance cases); Bank levy and seizure of assets; Passport denial ($2,500 or more owed); Credit reporting (over $1,000 owed); NJ Lottery intercept ($600+ winnings); Casino, sports wagering and internet gaming intercept ($40,000+ winnings); Civil awards and settlements intercept; Liens and automatic judgments; Driver's, professional, occupational and recreational license suspension; Bench warrants and court enforcement hearings.

Can a license be suspended for unpaid child support in New Jersey?

Licenses (driver's, professional, occupational, recreational) can be suspended when unpaid support equals six months of support or more, or court-ordered health coverage hasn't been provided for six months. Probation first sends a notice; you have 30 days to pay in full, show coverage, or ask in writing for a court hearing.

Can a parent go to jail for unpaid support in New Jersey?

Your Probation child support worker or a private lawyer can ask for an enforcement hearing in Family Court. The judge can order immediate payment, extra payments toward arrears, or arrest if payment isn't made. You can also file a post-judgment motion to enforce.

Is there interest on unpaid child support in New Jersey?

No interest. New Jersey has no statute adding interest to child support arrears, and the agency does not calculate interest. Unpaid support does become a judgment automatically.

More for New Jersey

Sources

Sources

Last checked: Oct 25, 2026.

Federal sources