Texas was recently named strongest in the nation for the successful collection of child support. The Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division was recently recognized as the country’s best child support program. The mission of the National Child Support Enforcement Association, which extended the award, is to enhance financial, emotion and medical support of children through its work.

Texas has the highest rate of total child support collections. For the fiscal year ending in September 2013, Texas had collected more than $3.6 billion in child support. Over the past 12 years, more than $31 billion in child support has been collected in Texas and for the past seven years, Texas collected more child support than any other state. From 2012 to 2013, Texas’s child support collections accounted for greater than 72 percent of the total increase in child support collections nationwide of $312 million. Texas also leads in child support collected per employee and cost effectiveness of enforcement. Texas’ attorney general has also received awards for contributing to more effective child support enforcement methods.

Consequences for failure to pay child support can include: income and tax refund withholding; suspension of an occupational license; refusal of a U.S. passport; and potential jail time. Because of this, it is important to remain current on child support payments. Both those receiving child support and those paying child support may be able to seek relief from the court if disputes arise.

It is also important to keep in mind that post-divorce modifications, such as a child support modification, may be available through the court in some circumstances. The family law legal system seeks, whenever possible, to provide options and resources for important family law issues.