Child support is a legal obligation that not even bankruptcy can eliminate. They are your children and they need your support, both materially and emotionally. If, as it seems, you are trying to avoid both them and your responsibility to them, they might be better off without you in their lives, but that doesn't cancel out the child support payments. It should be mentioned that this question was originally phrased ' How long before this is old news and x and kids can kiss off?' The moderators toned it down somewhat! If in doubt, always consult a lawyer - and do let us all know what the lawyer tells you!! 'When?' the answer is probably 'never.' As long as collection action takes place, it remains an active file with whatever child support enforcement agency operates in your jurisdiction. You can go back to court to try to have the outstanding arrears reduced or eliminated, but you would have to prove to the court that the amount was set wrong in the first place or that you had already paid the arrears. Alternatively, you could negotiate with your ex and petition the court to have the new agreement filed in place of the previous order. Unless you do one of these 2 things, the amount owing will remain owing. It doesn't go away if you ignore it.

The obligation does not elapse within any period of time. If you are not making support payments now or have failed to do so in the past, you still owe both the original payments and any interest penalties the court may levy. Even if the children were of an age at which they no longer would qualify to receive support, according to a separation agreement or divorce settlement, you would still be legally obliged to pay it. As the other poster stated, you may be able to have it reduced if your circumstances are such that you cannot absolutely pay. But you will need to hire a lawyer first and together find a very good legal reason why you should not pay the amounts owed or have them varied downwards.

Yeah when you die

Why haven't you payed the child support? If you should pay for it you shouldn't even be asking yourself if it elapses.

You will be going to jail and then after you still have to pay..

I can't believe you are and have avoided helping out supporting your child/children. Great job and you suck

Most states have statutes of limitations. California has no statute of limitations. The statute of limitations is usually 10 years after the child is 18. You need to check with an attorney in your state.

...YOU ARE A PEICE OF **** !

I myself have fallen behind in paying child suppport. But it doesn't matter, because even when I worked nearly 48+ hours a week it still wasn't enough to cover the amount Child Support Services was demanding. So the arrears was always accumulating, which had the effect of making me look like a deadbeat when in fact I was working my ass off and always striving to make those payments--because I do care about my kids. And this was after I had the amount modified. A modification did me no good. At any rate, now I'm informed that I'll probably have to go to jail--for being unable to find work! How does that make any sense? Also, the state, because I was never able to make payment on the arrears for the reason already stated, revoked my drivers licence. How in the world does that make any sense? And this was back when I was working and paying what I could! I understand the need to hold "non-custodial" parents finanacially responsible for their children (by the way I'm not a non-custodial parent by choice--I got screwed out of my kids, but that's another story). But the child support system is seriously flawed, and definitely biased. I'm being punished for something that is beyond my power to control. I can't force an employer to hire me. What am I supposed to do? Plus it doesn't help when they pull your license. I mean, most employers are not inclined to hire you if you don't have a drivers license (by the way, in order for me to look for work, I'm forced to drive without a license. What the hell else am I supposed to do)? The "system" doesn't make sense.

I hope you have to pay 10 times more. You made the children you pay. Should have thought of this question before you big brain (in your pant) got ahead of the little brain in your head),,, If you feel you are winning now..by not having paid.. I believe with all my heart you will pay somewhere else...I also bet yoou are the type of guy that doesn't answer questions you don't like!!! Start mapplying SPF !00 now, you will need it!

No, unlike parenting time violations by mothers, there's no statute of limitations on enforcing child support violations by fathers. Why are you behind in your support? Refusing to pay is dumb, but if you are laid off or off due to injuries, you could have filed for a reduction. http://tinyurl.com/ChildSupportModification2 If one of these reasons are why you're behind, or because you were a victim of paternity fraud, you could file for a retroactive reduction. "Our goal in issuing this PIQ is to clarify for State IV-D agencies the flexibility that exists under Federal IV-D requirements in setting support obligations and securing collections from low-income obligated parents." Judge David Grey Ross, Commissioner of the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement http://tinyurl.com/RetroactiveArrearsModification

Hi George, I hear what you are saying. There are always 2 sides and opinions. The person who wrote the question gave me nothing to work with...I answered the question not all the what if? Sounds Like you have had a few difficulties in this area to be so passionate! Maybe not. I have answered the question and will not change it without more info from pecoskid !

I think I understand what you are saying but I'm not sure, could you help me out please?

i am disgusted by so many negative comments , some people do not have thousands of dollars at hand ready to pay back child support, my boyfriend has a kid with an ex, she has 4 kids to 4 different men...she is only 22!! he looked after the kid when she was running around with other men and abandoned their child, he worked to support the kid,while she partied and did drugs...then she runs off with the kid and left him not knowing where the child was, now she has settled ??down and is preganant again to yet another man she has filed for child support and back child support , my guy has a bill for 14,000!!!! he just lost his job, any checks he got from his job were taken by the govenrment, he has no money!!! she however has plenty of money from now 4 guys stuggling to pay keep up with her iresponsibilty!!! how dare you all comment that the men are to pay!!! how about the woman who tell the men they are on the pill but get pregnant anyway and just cant keep their legs closed...she should be made to pay!!! for ruining peoples lives!!!!

to my knowledge you ex or ur adult children would have to release you from ur obligation to pay. when ur kids reach 18 they can sue you civily for at least a portion of the back support owed. some will always be owed to someone.even if your ex raised the kids to adulthood they still didn't have the money when they were growing up