Failing to pay child support and keep up with this court-ordered obligation can have major repercussions in California. One of the potential consequences is a negative impact on your credit score. Unpaid child support can appear on a credit report, since child support agencies are allowed to report arrears to credit bureaus.
Child Support Obligations and Payments Are Tracked in California
After a Los Angeles County family court issues a child support order, the court will continue to monitor payments through California Child Support Services. This is a resource that allows parents to pay online and track payments. In addition, the child support obligation is automatically reported to credit bureaus, such as Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
When a parent misses a payment, California Child Support Services will notify the paying parent that he or she is in arrears. The parent may then choose to make a payment, contest the arrears if a payment was already made, or file a petition to modify the child support order if he or she cannot afford it due to a significant change in circumstance, such as the loss of a job.
Unpaid Child Support Is Reported to Credit Agencies
If a parent becomes more than $1,000 in arrears on child support payments, Social Services will notify credit reporting agencies. This is typically done with a monthly report that includes every parent that is in arrears. If the balance continues to remain unpaid, any further amount owed will be reported monthly on the parent’s credit report.
Having an arrears notice on your credit report can hurt your credit score. Unpaid child support could significantly reduce your credit score, making it more difficult to qualify for financial loans, credit cards and housing.
How Long Will Unpaid Child Support Stay on My Credit Report?
Removing a notification of child support arrears from a credit report is only possible if it is successfully contested or the parent pays what he or she owes. According to Credit Bureau guidelines, delinquent payments – such as child support arrears – will remain on an individual’s credit score for seven years after the last non-delinquent payment.
This means even after you pay off what you owe in unpaid child support, the credit history showing the arrears will last for up to seven years. You may still be able to improve your credit score, however, by keeping up with all current bills and payments, disputing errors on your credit report, building a stronger credit history, and keeping credit card balances low.
Other Penalties for Late Child Support Payments
A potential hit to your credit score is not the only negative outcome of failing to pay child support. There are several other serious penalties in California, including interest, potential liens against your home or property, bank account freezes, wage garnishment, the suspension of your driver’s license and professional licenses, and being held in contempt of court.
Do You Need Help Paying Your Child Support? Contact an Attorney
Child support payments are calculated in a way that should make them affordable for the paying parent based on his or her income and lifestyle. If you have experienced a substantial change in your circumstances that is interfering with your ability to keep up with child support payments, contact an attorney for legal assistance.
An attorney from Boyd Law of Los Angeles can help you find solutions, such as petitioning the courts for a modification of your child support order for a lower payment amount. Working with an attorney can help you avoid negative effects on your credit before they occur.
