What is the Statute of Limitations for Collecting Child Support in Texas?
Full Question:
Answer:
According to Texas child support law, if any back support payments (arrears) are owed, the court retains jurisdiction to take enforcement action until the arrears are paid in full. There is no statute of limitations on enforcing a child support order. Failure to pay is a criminal offense, which may be prosecuted by the state without the other spouse's involvement.
Please see the following TX statutes:
§ 157.264 FAM. Enforcement of Judgment
(a) A money judgment rendered as provided in this subchapter may be
enforced by any means available for the enforcement of a judgment for
debts.
(b) The court shall render an order requiring that the obligor make
periodic payments on the judgment, including by income withholding under
Chapter 158 if the obligor is subject to income withholding.
§ 157.269 FAM. Retention of Jurisdiction
A court that renders an order providing for the payment of child
support retains continuing jurisdiction to enforce the order, including
by adjusting the amount of the periodic payments to be made by the
obligor or the amount to be withheld from the obligor's disposable
earnings, until all current support and medical support and child support
arrearages, including interest and any applicable fees and costs, have
been paid.
