Failure to pay child support in most areas can result in serious additional fines, loss of privileges, garnishment of wages and even prison terms. Typically parents will try to work together to avoid any of these situations from happening.

If a parent does not make a child support payment, the other parent is not allowed to refuse or deny access to the children. Rather the parent that does not receive the payment should contact an attorney or the Child Support Office to attempt to resolve the monetary issue.

Many states have all child support payments set up through either the courts or a state agency such as the Office of the Attorney General. This provides a buffer between the parents as well as keeps accurate records of payments between parents.