{"id":351676,"date":"2024-11-12T13:02:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-12T18:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/child-support\/can-you-go-to-jail-for-not-paying-child-support.html"},"modified":"2024-11-12T13:02:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-12T18:02:00","slug":"can-you-go-to-jail-for-not-paying-child-support","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-support\/can-you-go-to-jail-for-not-paying-child-support.html","title":{"rendered":"State Laws: Can You Go to Jail for Not Paying Child Support"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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State Laws: Can You Go to Jail for Not Paying Child Support?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Natalie Moritz<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Yes, you can face jail time for not paying child support. It is considered contempt of court. All states have laws that allow criminal prosecution for failing to comply with court-ordered child support. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Contempt of court<\/a> charges carry jail time as a penalty if the court determines you are deliberately not paying while able to do so. But courts typically use other enforcement methods (like wage garnishment) before resorting to incarceration.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Specific laws and penalties vary by state<\/a>. The circumstances of the case\u2014like the amount of child support owed, previous offenses, and the obligor\u2019s ability to pay\u2014also affect penalties and jail time.<\/p>\n

This page discusses jail time as a sanction for contempt of a court order and child support delinquency. You\u2019ll learn more about child support enforcement<\/a>, examples of state laws, and when to get legal help.<\/p>\n

Other Child Support Enforcement Actions<\/h2>\n

Courts realize that jailing a paying parent may not be the most effective method to collect back child support payments. This is why they will first use other enforcement tactics<\/a> to collect what is owed:<\/p>\n