Rhode Island Child Support Enforcement Attorney

Representing Both Sides of Child Support Enforcement in Rhode Island

Child support enforcement in Rhode Island moves through two parallel systems: the administrative tools managed by the Rhode Island Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) and the judicial tools available through the Rhode Island Family Court. Which path makes sense depends on the facts of the case, how much is owed, and whether the paying parent has the means to pay. At Moyer Law, PC, we’ve handled hundreds of child support enforcement matters and represent both the parent who is owed support and the parent facing enforcement action.

That distinction matters. A parent accused of nonpayment may have a legitimate basis to contest enforcement or seek a modification. A parent who is owed support may find that OCSS automatic enforcement is delayed or misdirected because of incomplete reporting. Attorney Don P. Moyer has more than 25 years of Rhode Island family law experience and has been advocating for clients in these proceedings since 1996. We coordinate directly with the OCSS and the Rhode Island Family Court to build a clear, actionable case on your behalf.

Call us at (401) 305-2934 to discuss the enforcement options available in your situation.

OCSS Enforcement Tools in Rhode Island

The Office of Child Support Services can trigger administrative enforcement automatically once a payment becomes delinquent. The specific tool depends on how much is owed:

• Administrative offset: When at least $25 is owed, administrative funds collected by the payer ( such as federal retirement benefits ) can be intercepted and redirected to the payee.
• Federal tax refund offset: The OCSS may intercept the payer’s federal tax refund and redirect the owed amount to the payee. The minimum past-due threshold is $150 in RI Works (TANF) cases and $500 in non-RI Works cases.
• Bank match and liens: When at least $500 is owed, the OCSS can examine the payer’s bank records and place a lien on the account until the balance is paid.
• Lottery intercept: When at least $500 is owed, lottery winnings of $600 or more can be intercepted and redirected to the payee, up to the full prize amount.
• Administrative lien: The OCSS can place a lien on the payer’s personal or real property for past-due child support, with no minimum past-due amount required.
• Credit bureau reporting: The OCSS can report delinquent child support to credit bureaus, affecting the payer’s credit record.
• Passport denial: When at least $2,500 is owed, the OCSS can notify the U.S. Department of State to place the payer on a list that prevents them from obtaining or using a passport. Paying the balance can remove them from the list.
• Insurance intercept: When a payer owes at least $500 in past-due support, the OCSS can intercept proceeds from any insurance settlement of $3,000 or more that would otherwise go to the payer.
• Criminal prosecution: When $10,000 or more has remained unpaid for three years despite the payer’s ability to pay, the nonpayment can constitute a felony in Rhode Island, carrying up to five years in prison.

A parent who is delinquent for at least 90 days may also have their driver’s license and professional licenses suspended until payment is made. For a paying parent whose livelihood depends on a professional or commercial license, that consequence is worth understanding before enforcement escalates.

Interest on Child Support Arrears

Rhode Island allows interest to accrue on unpaid child support at 1% per month on the outstanding balance. When a delinquent parent is ordered to pay, the total owed includes the original unpaid principal plus all accrued interest. Over time, that interest increases the total amount a payee may recover and adds real financial pressure on a non-paying parent to resolve the arrears.

Start the Enforcement Process with Moyer Law, PC

Automatic OCSS enforcement depends on accurate and complete reporting. When reports are incomplete or inaccurate, the OCSS may use the wrong tools or take no action at all. As child support enforcement attorneys in Rhode Island, we can step in where the OCSS process has stalled by filing motions directly with the Rhode Island Family Court and building the documentation record your case needs.

For parents on either side of an enforcement matter, we work to present the full picture: whether that means pursuing available enforcement tools for a parent who is owed support or presenting evidence of genuine financial hardship for a parent who can’t pay and may need a modification. Attorney Don P. Moyer brings over 25 years of Rhode Island family law experience to that process. Call (401) 305-2934 to schedule a consultation and talk through your options.