Quick answer: Connecticut child support that goes unpaid stays owed and can be collected by income withholding, a state lien at $500 or more of past-due support, license suspension once overdue support exceeds 90 days of payments, credit reporting and contempt. Interest is not automatic: a creditor has to ask a court, which may award up to 10% a year in its discretion.
This Connecticut child support arrears calculator adds up the unpaid principal, lets you test an interest rate if a court or agreement applies one, and flags the thresholds in C.G.S. 46b-220 and 52-362d. Federal law adds passport certification above $2,500. The court cannot modify support retroactively, so the way to stop arrears growing is to move to modify before installments fall due.
Connecticut child support arrears at a glance
| Rule | What Connecticut says |
|---|---|
| Interest | Not automatic. A creditor can ask the court for interest as damages for the detention of money: up to 10% a year, and no more, in the court’s discretion (C.G.S. 37-3a) |
| Income withholding | Immediate unless the court finds cause for a contingent order that starts at a delinquency of 30 days’ obligation (C.G.S. 52-362) |
| State lien | On real and personal property when past-due support is $500 or more and payments are ordered to the state (52-362d) |
| Credit reporting | Overdue support of $1,000 or more, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing (52-362d) |
| License suspension | Overdue support exceeding 90 days of periodic payments (46b-220) |
| Contempt and work activities | Magistrates can cite an obligor for contempt and order work activities in IV-D cases (46b-215) |
| Reimbursing the state | Parents are liable to reimburse the state for care or support it provided (46b-130) |
How do child support arrears work in Connecticut?
- Interest and method. See whether Connecticut charges interest on child support arrears.
- Collection. See what happens if you do not pay child support in Connecticut.
- Time limits and forgiveness. See whether Connecticut child support arrears expire or can be forgiven.
What does this arrears calculator check?
You enter the monthly support, the number of installments unpaid and, if you want to test one, an interest rate. By default no interest is added. The calculator flags whether the balance exceeds 90 days of payments, reaches $500 for the state lien, $1,000 for credit reporting or $2,500 for the federal passport threshold. It does not model partial payments or the arrearage guidelines. To change the amount going forward, see the Connecticut child support modification calculator, and for when the obligation stops, the Connecticut child support end date calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does Connecticut charge interest on child support arrears?
Not automatically. A creditor can ask the court to award interest under C.G.S. 37-3a, which allows up to 10% a year, and no more, as damages for the detention of money after it becomes payable. Whether to award it, and at what rate up to 10%, is in the court's discretion.
When can a Connecticut license be suspended for unpaid child support?
When the obligor owes overdue support that exceeds ninety days of periodic payments, or has not complied with subpoenas or warrants in a support case, and the court or magistrate issues a suspension order on an affidavit.
Does Connecticut place a lien for unpaid child support?
Yes. When payments are ordered to the state and past-due support is $500 or more, the state has a lien on the obligor's real and personal property.
Can Connecticut report unpaid child support to credit bureaus?
Yes, overdue support of $1,000 or more, after notice to the obligor and an opportunity for a hearing.
Can a Connecticut court reduce child support arrears?
Support cannot be modified retroactively, except from the date of service of notice of a pending motion.
Official sources
- C.G.S. 37-3a: interest as damages for the detention of money
- C.G.S. chapter 906 (postjudgment procedures), annotated, including 52-350f and 52-356d
- C.G.S. 52-362d: lien and credit reporting for past-due support
- C.G.S. 52-362: income withholding
- C.G.S. 46b-220: license suspension for delinquent obligors
- C.G.S. 46b-215: support of family; enforcement
- C.G.S. 46b-86: no retroactive modification
- C.G.S. 46b-130: reimbursement of the state