Child support back pay cannot be totally forgiven or waived, but there are a few situations that can help you handle it. Double-check the amount the court states you are in arrears. You can always ask the court to recalculate this amount to make sure it is correct.

Is back child support the same as arrears?

Once a child support order is in place, the obligor parent must pay the full amount of support ordered each month or risk being in “arrears.” Child support arrears—also known as “back” child support—is the difference between what a parent is ordered to pay and what the parent has actually paid.

What does it mean to be in child support arrears?

Assigned child support arrears refers to the unpaid child support payments that are given to the state. In such situations, the custodial parent is on public assistance and the missing child support payments serve to reimburse the state for financially supporting the child.

Can a child support arrear be waived in Georgia?

In Georgia, child support arrearage cannot be waived or even dropped by the custodial parent. The debt will continue to exist long after the child has become an adult.

Can a state charge interest on unpaid child support?

States have the authority to charge interest on unpaid support at the rate set by state statute. The interest is generally determined in the same way as other civil judgments. States may look at interest on child support arrears as both an incentive to encourage timely payments as well as a penalty for those who do not make payments.

Is there interest on overdue child support payments?

Yes, interest can indeed accumulate on overdue child support payments. The interest rates can vary depending on the state. Some states like Connecticut, Delaware, and Hawaii don’t add interest to child support arrears, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.