What happens if I don’t pay child maintenance?

Failure to pay child maintenance can lead to the following legal and financial consequences.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) can instruct the payers employer to deduct maintenance payments directly from their wages.

The CMS can also direct that regular payments or a lump sum withdrawal are removed from the paying parent’s bank account.

Alternatively, the CMS may obtain a Liability Order that allows them to take action to recover unpaid child maintenance. One method of enforcement is to send bailiffs to collect the debt.

A court can revoke the paying parent’s driving license or passport for up to two years if they are found to have deliberately avoided payment.

In extreme cases, the court can impose a prison sentence for non-payment.