Quick answer: In Pennsylvania, each support obligation is a judgment by operation of law on its due date. The statutes we read set no interest rate; the court can add up to 10% on amounts 30 days or more in arrears if willful. Licenses can be suspended at three months of arrears when income cannot be attached.
This Pennsylvania child support arrears calculator adds up the unpaid installments, shows the 10% willful-arrears penalty if the court found one under 23 Pa.C.S. 4348(c), and flags the withholding, license, publication and passport thresholds.
Pennsylvania child support arrears and interest at a glance
| Rule | What Pennsylvania says |
|---|---|
| Judgment | On and after its due date each support obligation is a judgment by operation of law (23 Pa.C.S. 4352(d)) |
| Lien | Overdue support on record is a lien on real property in the county; the lien expires 20 years after the due date of the last unsatisfied overdue payment (4352(d.1)) |
| Penalty | Up to 10% on any amount in arrears 30 days or more if the court finds the arrearage willful (4348(c)) |
| Interest | We found no statutory interest rate; a support-collector resource says the state does not charge interest |
| Income attachment | Mandatory for an obligor in arrears of at least one month; capped by the federal limit (4348(a), (b), (g)) |
| Licenses | Denial or suspension when income cannot be attached and support owed equals at least three months (4355) |
| Payment order | Current support first, then medical and child care, then ordered arrears (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.17(d)) |
How do child support arrears work in Pennsylvania?
- Interest and penalties. See interest and penalties on Pennsylvania child support arrears.
- Collection. See what happens if you do not pay child support in Pennsylvania.
- Whether arrears can be changed. See whether Pennsylvania 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 say whether a court found the arrearage willful. The calculator adds the 10% maximum penalty on amounts in arrears 30 days or more only in that case, and flags the thresholds. It does not model partial payments. To change the amount going forward, see the Pennsylvania child support modification calculator, and for when the obligation stops, the Pennsylvania child support end date calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does Pennsylvania charge interest on child support arrears?
We found no statutory interest rate, and a support-collector resource says the state does not charge interest. The court can add a penalty of up to 10% if the arrearage was willful.
What is the Pennsylvania penalty on child support arrears?
Not more than 10% of any amount in arrears for 30 days or more, if the court finds the arrearage willful.
When can Pennsylvania suspend a license for unpaid child support?
When income cannot be attached and support owed equals at least three months of the monthly obligation, after a notice with 30 days to act.
How long do I have to contest a Pennsylvania license notice?
The grounds are limited to mistakes of fact; the order issues 30 days after the notice unless you pay, get a court-approved payment plan or are excused.
Can Pennsylvania publish my name for unpaid child support?
A county may publish the names of obligors in arrears 30 days or more.