Support Order Enforcement
Once an order for child and/or medical support becomes final, the CSEA will start to enforce the order. This includes sending a notice of income withholding to the employer or other source of the person responsible for paying support. Income withholdings help to make sure that payments are sent and received timely.
If the current obligation falls behind, the CSEA uses a variety of measures to collect the past-due support. Those measures can include:
- Adding a liquidation order to help pay off the past due balance
- State and federal tax offset
- Credit reporting
- Passport denial
- Interception of Ohio lottery, casino, or racino winnings
- Liens
- Drivers and/or professional license suspension
- Civil Contempt
- Criminal penalties for non-payment of support
If you are ordered to pay support and are having trouble meeting your obligation, please contact us. We can discuss payment options, community resources, and more.
It is important to keep your mailing address updated with the CSEA so you do not miss any important information about your case.
To make updates to your address, employment, or to ask questions, visit the Ohio Child Support Customer Service Portal.
Notice of Default
The CSEA will mail a Default Notice to those ordered to pay support (obligors) who are more than 30 days behind on their payments. This notice will alert them to the potential for any enforcement techniques authorized by Ohio law. The obligor may request a due process hearing (a Mistake of Fact hearing) within fourteen (14) days from the date the Notice of Default is issued if they disagree.
Driver's License Suspension
Before the CSEA can notify the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to suspend a driver's license, the CSEA will send a notice to the person ordered to pay support (obligor) to the address on file.
In order to qualify for driver's license suspension, the person ordered to pay support must have failed to pay at least 50% of their total monthly support obligation for 90 consecutive days. Tax intercept payments do not count toward the 50% requirement.
Obligors whose driver's licenses have been suspended by the CSEA can have their license reinstated when one of the following events occurs:
- The obligor is no longer in default.
- Pay the back support (arrears) balance in full; if this is not possible,
- Present evidence of employment or an account at a financial institution so a withholding order may be issued. The CSEA must be able to confirm the employment or the account is valid; if these options are not possible then,
- Present evidence acceptable to the CSEA that the obligor is unable to work due to circumstances beyond their control; if these options are not possible then,
- Comply with a seek work program as established by a court or a family support program administered or approved by the CSEA; if this is not possible then,
- Pay the full balance of the total monthly obligation due for the 90-day period prior to the date the agency sent the pre-suspension notice.
Contact the CSEA to discuss arrangements for releasing a driver's license suspension. After a suspension has been released by the CSEA, individuals must visit the BMV to complete the driver's license reinstatement process. The BMV charges a reinstatement fee. Please visit their website for more information.
Tax Offsets
Child Support can be seized from an obligor's federal or state tax refund to help pay child support debt if they meet certain criteria. If the case meets criteria for offset, it is automatically submitted for Tax Offset. Only the person ordered to pay support (obligor) will receive notice about the case meeting criteria for offset.
Everyone’s income tax information is confidential. IRS regulations prohibit our staff from discussing tax information with anyone other than the taxpayer, including other parties in the child support case, attorneys, and courts, unless a proper release authorization is on file with the CSEA.
Please note: CSEA staff are not permitted to tell a person receiving payments (obligee) if payments were received from the Tax Offset program. We appreciate your understanding.
How Can I Find Out More Information?
For more information, please visit the Ohio Department of Taxation State Tax Offset Program or the Internal Revenue Service Federal Tax Offset Program.