Back child support in Connecticut, also called child support arrears, refers to court-ordered payments that have become due and remain unpaid. Connecticut has no statute of limitations on enforcing child support arrears, meaning the state can collect past due child support indefinitely until the full balance is paid. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-215, the Office of Child Support Services enforces these debts using wage garnishment of up to 65% of disposable income, driver's license suspension, tax refund interception, and contempt proceedings. This guide explains how child support debt accrues, how Connecticut collects it, and what options exist for parents who owe child support or are owed it.
Key Facts: Back Child Support in Connecticut
| Factor | Connecticut Rule |
|---|---|
| Statute of Limitations on Arrears | None — enforceable indefinitely |
| Maximum Wage Garnishment | 50%–65% of disposable income |
| Interest on Arrears | Not automatically charged by the state |
| Credit Bureau Reporting Threshold | Arrears exceeding $1,000 |
| License Suspension Trigger | More than 90 days delinquent |
| Passport Denial Threshold | Arrears exceeding $2,500 (federal) |
| Federal Prosecution Threshold | Arrears of $5,000 or more |
| Governing Statutes | § 46b-215, § 46b-220, § 46b-86 |
| Enforcement Agency | Office of Child Support Services (DSS) / Support Enforcement Services |
| Modification | Not retroactive before date of service |
What Is Back Child Support in Connecticut?
Back child support in Connecticut is past-due support that has accrued under a court order and remains unpaid. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-215, "arrearage" means court-ordered current support or arrearage payments that have become due and payable but remain unpaid, plus any unpaid amounts reduced to a judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. The definition also covers support due for periods before an action to establish an order.
Child support arrears in Connecticut arise in two main ways. First, an obligor (the parent ordered to pay) misses or underpays scheduled payments, and the unpaid balance accumulates over time. Second, a court may establish retroactive support covering the period before the order was entered. Both forms become enforceable child support debt. Connecticut distinguishes "current support" (the ongoing monthly obligation) from "arrearage payments" (scheduled amounts applied toward the past-due balance). A single income withholding order can collect both at once, which is why a parent who owes child support often sees deductions exceeding their base monthly amount until the debt clears.
Is There a Statute of Limitations on Back Child Support in Connecticut?
There is no statute of limitations on enforcing back child support in Connecticut. Past due child support remains collectible indefinitely until the entire balance is paid, even after the child turns 18 and the current support obligation ends. This makes Connecticut among the strictest states for arrears enforcement, because a child support debt from decades ago can still be pursued through wage garnishment, liens, and tax intercepts.
While arrears never expire, the establishment of paternity carries a separate limit: a paternity action must generally be brought before the child reaches age 18. Once an order exists, however, the obligation to pay any accrued arrearage continues without time limit. Connecticut courts and the Office of Child Support Services treat unpaid child support as a non-dischargeable, perpetual obligation. Under federal bankruptcy law (11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(5)), child support arrears cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, so filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 will not eliminate the debt. A Chapter 13 plan may, however, allow a parent to repay arrears over three to five years while protecting against other enforcement actions.
How Does Connecticut Calculate Child Support Arrears?
Connecticut calculates child support and arrears under the Income Shares Model set out in the Connecticut Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines, authorized by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-215a. Support is based on both parents' combined net weekly income and the number of children, and arrearage payments are then set based on the obligor's ability to pay. The guidelines are reviewed and reissued every four years.
The arrearage payment amount is determined under Section 46b-215a-3a of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, which sets periodic payments on the past-due balance. Notably, the State of Connecticut does not automatically charge interest on missed payments, retroactive support, or adjudicated arrears, unlike many states that add statutory interest. A court may, in its discretion, award post-judgment interest on an arrearage reduced to judgment under the general civil interest statute, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 37-3a, which caps interest at 10% per year, but this is discretionary rather than automatic. Major updates to the guidelines take effect August 1, 2026, introducing a new CCSG-1A methodology for calculating support and arrearage amounts and a framework for cases involving more than two legally recognized parents under the Connecticut Parentage Act.
How Connecticut Enforces Back Child Support
Connecticut enforces back child support through Support Enforcement Services and the Office of Child Support Services, using income withholding, license suspension, tax intercepts, liens, and contempt of court. Income withholding has been mandatory for all child support orders since 1988, and employers must begin withholding within 14 days of receiving an income withholding order, sending payments to the Connecticut Centralized Child Support Processing Center.
Wage garnishment is capped under federal Consumer Credit Protection Act limits that Connecticut applies. Up to 50% of disposable earnings may be garnished if the paying parent supports another spouse or child, and up to 60% if not. When the parent is more than 12 weeks in arrears, an additional 5% may be withheld, raising the maximum to 65% of disposable income. Beyond wages, Connecticut intercepts federal and state tax refunds, seizes lottery winnings, places liens on real property, and levies bank accounts. The Office of Child Support Services reports delinquent parents to consumer credit bureaus once arrears exceed $1,000, which can lower the obligor's credit score and affect their ability to borrow.
Driver's License and Professional License Suspension
Connecticut can suspend the driver's license, professional license, occupational license, or recreational license of a parent who owes back child support under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-220. A "delinquent child support obligor" is defined as an obligor who owes overdue support exceeding 90 days of periodic payments on a current support or arrearage order. The judge can order suspension if the parent fails to pay overdue support within 30 days of the order.
The statute covers a broad range of credentials, including motor vehicle operator's licenses, commercial driver's licenses, and licenses regulated under Titles 19a, 20, and 21, plus permits issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. A judge or family support magistrate cannot issue a suspension order without four specific findings: the obligor received actual notice of the proceeding and that a license may be suspended; the noncompliance was wilful and without good cause; the suspension order is fair and equitable; and the obligor has sufficient financial resources to comply. These findings protect parents who genuinely cannot pay from losing the very license they need to earn income. A suspended license can be reinstated once the parent complies with the court-ordered payment conditions.
Passport Denial and Federal Enforcement
A parent who owes more than $2,500 in back child support will be denied a U.S. passport under federal law, and Connecticut reports qualifying arrears to the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement for passport denial. This federal threshold applies nationwide and blocks both new passport applications and renewals until the parent resolves the arrears or arranges a payment plan acceptable to the state.
For severe cases, federal criminal prosecution becomes possible. A parent with arrears of $5,000 or more may be referred to the U.S. Attorney under the Child Support Recovery Act and the Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 228. Federal penalties can reach up to two years imprisonment for repeated or willful violations, though incarceration is rare and reserved for extreme cases where the parent clearly has the ability to pay but refuses. At the state level, Connecticut also treats willful nonsupport as a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. Because Connecticut has adopted the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA), an order follows a parent who moves out of state, and Support Enforcement Services can garnish wages or register the order in the new state for enforcement.
Can You Reduce or Modify Back Child Support in Connecticut?
Connecticut does not allow retroactive reduction of accrued child support arrears below the date of service of a modification motion. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-86, no order for periodic support may be modified retroactively, except that a court may modify support back to the date the opposing party was served with the modification motion. Arrears that accrued before that service date generally cannot be erased.
This rule means a parent who experiences a job loss or income drop must file a Motion for Modification (Form JD-FM-174, revised in 2026) immediately, because the earliest date a court can adjust support is the day the other party is served. Waiting to file allows the full arrearage to keep accumulating at the old rate. A modification requires showing a substantial change in circumstances under § 46b-86, or that the existing order substantially deviates from the current guidelines. Importantly, paying down accrued arrears does not itself qualify as a substantial change in circumstances. If a child or party received state assistance or HUSKY health coverage, the modification must be filed with the Family Support Magistrate Division, and a copy must be sent to the Office of the Attorney General at 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106.
How to Collect Back Child Support in Connecticut
A parent owed back child support in Connecticut can open a free case with the Office of Child Support Services, which pursues collection on their behalf, or file a Motion for Contempt (Form JD-FM-173) in Superior Court. Opening a IV-D case with the agency costs nothing, and the state then uses income withholding, tax intercepts, liens, and license suspension to collect the past due child support debt automatically.
For parents who prefer court enforcement, a Motion for Contempt asks a judge to find the obligor in violation of the support order. A court can only enforce an order that was entered or approved by a court — informal or unfiled agreements are not enforceable through contempt. Service requirements are strict: a proper officer must serve a true and attested copy of the Motion for Contempt and the underlying order at least 12 days before the court date, and proof of service must be filed at least 6 days before the hearing. If the court finds willful contempt, it can order payment of the arrears, jail the obligor until they purge the contempt, and order the delinquent parent to pay the other parent's attorney's fees and costs. For help, parents can contact the Support Enforcement Services Child Support Call or Text Center at 1-800-228-KIDS (5437).
Filing Fees and Court Costs in Connecticut
Filing a Motion for Contempt (Form JD-FM-173) to enforce back child support in Connecticut generally carries no filing fee, while a post-judgment Motion for Modification in a family relations matter carries a fee of approximately $180 under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-259c. As of June 2026, parents should verify current amounts with their local clerk, because court fees are adjusted periodically by statute.
The distinction matters: enforcing an existing order (contempt) is typically free to file, but service of process by a state marshal usually costs $40 to $90 depending on travel and the number of parties served. Changing a future obligation (modification) carries the larger statutory fee. Parents who cannot afford fees may apply for a fee waiver using Form JD-FM-75 (Application for Waiver of Fees), which a judge can grant based on indigency. Opening an enforcement case through the Office of Child Support Services avoids most court costs entirely, since the agency handles filings administratively. As of June 2026, verify all filing fees, marshal service costs, and waiver eligibility with your local Superior Court clerk or the Connecticut Judicial Branch Court Fees page, as figures change.