How Vermont Collects Unpaid Child Support: Wage Garnishment, License Suspension and Passport Denial
If you don’t pay child support in Vermont, each installment is a judgment, a surcharge accrues, licenses can be suspended and assets attached at a delinquency of one-quarter of the annual support, and a court can add a civil penalty.
What happens if you don’t pay child support in Vermont?
Each installment becomes a judgment on the date it is due (15 V.S.A. 606(b)). The person owed, or the Office of Child Support in public-assistance cases, may file a motion for a determination of the amount due, and the court renders a judgment that is as binding and enforceable as one in any other civil action; further motions can follow for later unpaid balances (606(a)).
How much can Vermont take from my paycheck?
Federal law caps withholding at 50% or 60% of disposable earnings, and 55% or 65% for support more than 12 weeks overdue (15 U.S.C. 1673(b)).
| If the person | Limit | If support is more than 12 weeks overdue |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting a spouse or another child | 50% | 55% |
| Not supporting a spouse or another child | 60% | 65% |
When can a license be suspended?
On noncompliance with an order under section 606 and a delinquency of at least one-quarter of the annual support obligation, the Office of Child Support or a judge or magistrate may order a civil suspension of a driver’s license, commercial license, recreational license and any trade or professional license; the office must give notice, and the obligor has 21 days to contest or ask to present evidence; inability to comply is a defense (798).
Can I renew a license while I owe?
An applicant must sign a statement that they are not subject to a support order, or are in good standing; you are in good standing if less than one-twelfth of the annual support is overdue, you are contesting liability, you follow an approved repayment plan, or the agency finds immediate payment an unreasonable hardship for a licensee (795).
Can the obligee get wage withholding quickly?
Yes. If the order has no immediate withholding, an obligee can petition when any amount is unpaid seven business days after it is due, and the court holds a hearing within 14 days; the obligor can object only for an error in the amount or identity (782(a)).
Can they attach my bank account?
Upon noncompliance of more than one-quarter of the annual support, the Office of Child Support may attach assets held by a trustee, including bank accounts, judgments, settlements and lottery winnings, after notice and 20 days to contest (799).
Can they freeze my assets?
If you were previously the subject of an enforcement proceeding and later fail to pay one-twelfth of the annual support, the court may order liquid assets held in escrow for up to four months (796). The money is applied toward unpaid support if you fail to pay.
Can the court add a penalty?
Yes. A civil penalty of up to 10 percent on any amount in arrears 30 days or more, if the arrearage was willful (797).
What about passports?
If a state agency certifies that a person owes child support arrearages of more than $2,500, federal law requires refusal of a passport (42 U.S.C. 652(k)). The Vermont arrears calculator warns when the unpaid principal passes that figure.
What should you do if you owe?
Respond to every notice within the deadlines, ask for a repayment plan, add up the balance in the Vermont child support arrears calculator and, if your circumstances changed, file to modify right away.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if you don’t pay child support in Vermont?
Each installment becomes a judgment, a surcharge accrues, and licenses and assets can be reached.
How much of my paycheck can Vermont take for child support?
Federal law limits it to 50% or 60% of disposable earnings, and 55% or 65% for support more than 12 weeks overdue.
Can Vermont suspend my license for unpaid child support?
Yes, at a delinquency of at least one-quarter of the annual support obligation.
Can Vermont attach my bank account for child support?
Yes, through trustee process at the same one-quarter level, after notice.
When can the passport of a Vermont parent who owes child support be denied?
When arrears above $2,500 are certified under federal law.
Official sources
- 15 V.S.A. 606: judgments, surcharge, enforcement window
- 15 V.S.A. 797: civil penalties
- 15 V.S.A. 798: license suspension
- 15 V.S.A. 799: trustee process
- 15 V.S.A. 795: licenses and contracts
- 15 V.S.A. 660(f), (g): arrears judicially unenforceable
- 15 U.S.C. 1673: restriction on garnishment
- 42 U.S.C. 652(k): denial of passports
A local family law attorney can review your situation — many offer a free consultation.
This is general information, not legal advice. It is based on the cited Vermont statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed Vermont attorney.