How to collect unpaid child support in Vermont
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. No interest; instead a surcharge of 0.5% a month (6% a year), not compounded, is added to past-due support (since Jan. 1, 2012).
- Interest on unpaid support
- No interest
- License suspension
- By statute, a license can be suspended after a finding of noncompliance with a delinquency of at least one-quarter of the yearly support amount.
- Passport denial
- Over $2,500 past due (federal law)
Collection tools in Vermont
Arrears means support that is past due. The child support agency can use these tools to collect it:
- Wage withholding (and increased withholding for arrears)
- State and federal tax refund offset
- Lottery offset
- Liens on property
- Trustee process on bank and retirement accounts
- Passport denial (at least $2,500 owed)
- Driver's, professional and recreational license suspension or non-renewal
- Civil penalty up to 10% for deliberate non-payment
- Assets held in escrow
- Contempt of court
Law: 15 V.S.A. 606, 781-799
Ask the agency in writing to collect what is owed: Ask the agency to collect unpaid support
Licenses in Vermont
By statute, a license can be suspended after a finding of noncompliance with a delinquency of at least one-quarter of the yearly support amount. OCS says it may also ask licensing agencies not to renew a professional or recreational license when payments are at least one month overdue and you are not following a repayment plan. OCS must give notice and 21 days to contest before an administrative suspension (798(b)).
Law: 15 V.S.A. 798(c)
Interest on arrears in Vermont
No interest; instead a surcharge of 0.5% a month (6% a year), not compounded, is added to past-due support (since Jan. 1, 2012). Payments go first to current support, then arrears, then surcharge. A court can forgive surcharge if the paying parent proves they were unable to pay.
Law: 15 V.S.A. 606(d)
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 Vermont
If the court finds you could pay but willfully did not, it can hold you in contempt and order you to pay arrears or face jail.
Law: 15 V.S.A. 603
Source: OCS Parent Handbook
In nearby states
- New York: 9% a year
- Rhode Island: 12% a year
- New Jersey: No interest
- West Virginia: 5% a year
Steps to collect support in Vermont
Track what was paid
Keep a log of every payment and every missed payment.
Contact the agency
Ask for enforcement from Office of Child Support (OCS), Vermont Department for Children and Families (1-800-786-3214) · Apply online
Tell the agency about income
The other parent's job, address or bank helps the agency collect.
Check the balance
Request a written statement of what is owed.
Ask for free help
Ask for free help: Vermont Legal Help (VTLawHelp.org) and Vermont Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service.
Free legal help in Vermont
Questions about unpaid support in Vermont
What can the agency do about unpaid support in Vermont?
Arrears means support that is past due. The child support agency can use these tools to collect it: Wage withholding (and increased withholding for arrears); State and federal tax refund offset; Lottery offset; Liens on property; Trustee process on bank and retirement accounts; Passport denial (at least $2,500 owed); Driver's, professional and recreational license suspension or non-renewal; Civil penalty up to 10% for deliberate non-payment; Assets held in escrow; Contempt of court.
Can a license be suspended for unpaid child support in Vermont?
By statute, a license can be suspended after a finding of noncompliance with a delinquency of at least one-quarter of the yearly support amount. OCS says it may also ask licensing agencies not to renew a professional or recreational license when payments are at least one month overdue and you are not following a repayment plan. OCS must give notice and 21 days to contest before an administrative suspension (798(b)).
Can a parent be held in contempt for not paying in Vermont?
If the court finds you could pay but willfully did not, it can hold you in contempt and order you to pay arrears or face jail.
Is there interest on unpaid child support in Vermont?
No interest; instead a surcharge of 0.5% a month (6% a year), not compounded, is added to past-due support (since Jan. 1, 2012). Payments go first to current support, then arrears, then surcharge. A court can forgive surcharge if the paying parent proves they were unable to pay.