Quick answer: In Mississippi, child support unpaid for 30 days becomes a judgment by operation of law with a lien on all property, enforceable at any time. We found no fixed interest rate: a judge sets it. A license can be suspended 90 days after a notice of being 30 days in arrears.
This Mississippi child support arrears calculator adds up the unpaid installments, lets you test an interest rate and flags the judgment, license and passport thresholds under Miss. Code 93-11-71. Interest defaults to zero.
Mississippi child support arrears and interest at a glance
| Rule | What Mississippi says |
|---|---|
| Judgment | Payments unpaid at least 30 days: a judgment by operation of law for all payments then due, enforceable at any time (Miss. Code 93-11-71(1)) |
| Lien | On all real and personal property, perfected against third parties on enrollment on the judgment roll (93-11-71(2)) |
| Interest | Judgments other than on a sale or contract bear interest at a rate set by the judge (75-17-7) |
| Seizure without enrollment | Government payments including unemployment and workers’ compensation, long-term gaming winnings, bank assets, settlements, retirement distributions, lump sums and unclaimed property (93-11-71(3)) |
| Licenses | Out of compliance at 30 days in arrears; suspension 90 days after notice unless paid or a payment schedule is agreed (93-11-153; 93-11-157) |
| Withholding | Current support plus 20% of it until the delinquency is paid, within federal limits (93-11-105) |
How do child support arrears work in Mississippi?
- Interest and method. See the Mississippi child support interest rate.
- Collection. See what happens if you do not pay child support in Mississippi.
- Time limits and forgiveness. See whether Mississippi child support arrears expire or can be forgiven.
What does this arrears calculator check?
You enter the monthly support and the number of installments unpaid, and optionally a rate to test. The calculator adds simple interest counted from 30 days after each due date only if you enter a rate, and flags the 30-day judgment and license triggers, DHS’s 20% add-on to withholding and the $2,500 passport line. It does not model partial payments. To change the amount going forward, see the Mississippi child support modification calculator, and for when the obligation stops, the Mississippi child support end date calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does Mississippi charge interest on child support arrears?
A judgment other than on a sale or contract bears interest at a rate set by the judge. The statutes we read give no fixed rate for support arrears, so ask the court or DHS.
When does unpaid Mississippi child support become a judgment?
When payments remain unpaid for at least 30 days, a judgment by operation of law arises for all payments then due.
How much more does Mississippi withhold for arrears?
An administrative withholding order directs current support plus an additional 20% of the current obligation until the delinquency is paid, within federal limits.
When can a Mississippi license be suspended for unpaid child support?
When the obligor is at least 30 days in arrears, DHS can send a notice that the license will be suspended in 90 days unless the arrearage is paid or a payment schedule is agreed.
Can Mississippi seize unemployment benefits for child support?
Yes. A support judgment subjects government payments, including unemployment compensation and workers' compensation, to interception or seizure without enrollment on the judgment roll.
Official sources
- Miss. Code 93-11-71: judgment by operation of law; liens; seizure
- Miss. Code 75-17-7: interest on judgments
- Miss. Code 93-11-153: license suspension definitions
- Miss. Code 93-11-157: license suspension procedure
- Miss. Code 93-11-105: administrative withholding
- Miss. Code 93-11-65: security; emancipation
- 15 U.S.C. 1673: restriction on garnishment
- 42 U.S.C. 652(k): denial of passports