Quick answer: In North Dakota, each unpaid child support installment is a judgment by operation of law, with no statute of limitations and no retroactive modification. The state charges simple interest on past-due support ordered by a North Dakota court, at a rate reset each year (currently 10%). A court can suspend licenses when arrears exceed three times the monthly obligation.
This North Dakota child support arrears calculator adds up the unpaid installments and simple interest at the rate you enter under NDCC 28-20-34, and flags the license, withholding and passport thresholds. The state can suspend interest under a payment plan and waive it after compliance.
North Dakota child support arrears and interest at a glance
| Rule | What North Dakota says |
|---|---|
| Judgment | On and after the due date, each unpaid payment is a judgment by operation of law, not subject to retroactive modification (NDCC 14-08.1-05) |
| Time limits | Not subject to the statutes of limitation; the judgment cannot be canceled under 28-20-35; liens and executions are not time-limited (14-08.1-05(2)) |
| Interest | Simple interest on past-due principal at the judgment rate, 10% currently, per the state (ND HHS; 28-20-34) |
| Licenses | Arrears over three times the monthly obligation and not current in a repayment plan: the court may suspend licenses (14-08.1-06, 14-08.1-07) |
| Withholding toward arrears | The ordered amount, or 20% of the monthly obligation if none is ordered (14-09-09.30) |
| Lump sums | An income payer must notify the agency before paying the obligor $1,000 or more and may not pay more than half for 30 days (14-09-09.34) |
How do child support arrears work in North Dakota?
- Interest and method. See the North Dakota child support interest rate.
- Collection. See what happens if you do not pay child support in North Dakota.
- Time limits and forgiveness. See whether North Dakota 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 the annual rate (10% by default). The calculator adds simple interest on installments due in a prior month and flags the judgment, the three-times-monthly license trigger, the 20% withholding add-on and the $2,500 passport line. It does not model partial payments. To change the amount going forward, see the North Dakota child support modification calculator, and for when the obligation stops, the North Dakota child support end date calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does North Dakota charge interest on child support arrears?
Yes. Interest is charged on past-due support ordered by a North Dakota court; it is simple interest on the past-due principal.
What is the North Dakota interest rate on child support arrears?
The state currently lists 10%. The rate is the judgment rate: the Wall Street Journal prime rate plus three points, rounded up to the next half point, set each year.
Do North Dakota child support arrears expire?
No. Due and unpaid support is not subject to the statutes of limitation, and the judgment cannot be canceled under the ordinary rule.
When can a North Dakota court suspend a license for unpaid child support?
When arrears exceed three times the monthly obligation and the obligor is not current in a court-established repayment plan.
Can North Dakota waive child support interest?
The state says interest can be suspended under a payment plan and the remaining interest waived after compliance.