Enforcement of Support Orders

Children have the right to receive financial and emotional support from both parents. The CSSD strives to make it possible for both parents to give their children everything that they need to thrive. 

Working to Ensure Child Support Gets Paid

Most child support in Montana is collected via income withholding from a parent's wages. When income withholding is not available the CSSD does have other enforcement actions available. 

List of enforcement tools.

Federal Tax Refund and Federal Administrative Payment Offset

Information about the parent who owes past-due support is submitted to the IRS and other federal agencies. Any payment the parent is entitled to may be sent to Child Support instead of the parent who owes past-due support. Payments that are subject to a full or partial reversal are held for up to six months before being disbursed. This is due to increases in reversals of previously paid federal payments.

  • Collection fees are charged by the IRS for federal tax refunds and for federal administrative payments. Federal administrative payments include refunds, reimbursements, contract amounts, or other irregular payments made to the obligor who owes support. These fees are charged to CSSD and passed on to non-public assistance obligees. 

State Tax Refund Offset

Information about the parent who owes past-due support is submitted to the Department of Revenue. Any payment the parent is entitled to may be sent to Child Support instead of the parent who owes past-due support.

Credit Bureau Reporting

The past-due amount is reported to credit reporting agencies which can affect the credit score of the parent who owes the amount.

Passport Hold

The parent who owes past-due support is not allowed to get or renew his or her passport.

License Suspension

Driver's license, Occupational license & Recreational license (such as a hunting or fishing license)

Intercept Lottery Winnings

Montana Lottery notifies Child Support before paying out winnings of $600.00, and over. If the winner owes past-due support the funds are sent to Child Support.

Freeze and Seize Assets

This includes things like freezing and seizing bank accounts, certain garnishments, inheritances and insurance settlements.

Property Liens

Filing a lien/claim against that parent’s real and titled personal property. This may affect the parent’s ability to sell certain property or get a loan. This applies to property in Montana.

Medical Support Enforcement

  • Medical support is a form of child support.
  • Montana law requires that every child support order include a provision for medical support, normally in the form of health insurance coverage. When a parent can provide reasonable cost employer-based health insurance coverage, they may be required to do so.