The support was ordered. We make it collectible.
When a parent stops paying, the debt does not disappear — it compounds. We confirm years of unpaid child support into an enforceable money judgment and perfect liens that reach the assets most parents think are out of reach, including personal injury settlements.
A judgment fixes the amount. A lien catches the money.
Most collection efforts stall because they chase one without the other. We run both at once — confirming what is owed while attaching the assets it can be collected from — so that when a settlement, account, or windfall appears, the claim is already in place.
Confirm the arrears into a money judgment
We file to confirm every unpaid installment plus statutory interest and ask the court to render a cumulative money judgment. In Texas the court has no discretion to forgive confirmed arrears — it tallies what is owed.
Tex. Fam. Code § 157.263Perfect a child support lien
A lien attaches by operation of law to the paying parent's non-exempt property — and no prior judgment is required to perfect it. We prepare and serve the statutory notice so the lien is in place before assets move.
Tex. Fam. Code §§ 157.311–.317Reach the asset and collect
Once a holder of funds has notice, the property is frozen — it cannot be released without our signed lien release or a court order. We collect by turnover, foreclosure, or levy, depending on where the money sits.
Tex. Fam. Code §§ 157.319, .323, .327Where the money hides, the lien reaches.
A Texas child support lien is remarkably powerful. Unlike a standard civil judgment that is blocked by numerous state property exemptions, a Chapter 157 lien attaches to a broad spectrum of the paying parent's non-exempt assets the moment the notice is filed.
Bank & Brokerage Funds
Checking, savings, certificates of deposit, and investment brokerage accounts can be frozen immediately upon the financial institution receiving the lien notice, preventing the obligor from withdrawing the funds.
Personal Injury Settlements
A lien attaches to claims for negligence or personal injury. If the obligor is injured in a car wreck or workplace accident, your lien must be satisfied from their settlement proceeds before they receive their cut.
Inheritances & Proceeds
Life insurance proceeds, annuity payouts, and inheritances distributed through probate are subject to the lien. The executor or insurance provider must direct the attached funds to the registry.
Non-Homestead Real Estate
While a primary residence is highly protected in Texas, rental properties, vacation homes, raw land, and commercial real estate are entirely vulnerable to a child support lien and subsequent foreclosure sale.
The court has no discretion to forgive the math.
Child support debt does not sit idle. In Texas, arrearages accumulate statutory simple interest every year until the judgment is paid in full. When we file a motion to confirm arrears, the judge is legally required to tally the exact missed payments plus all accrued interest. They cannot reduce the balance out of sympathy.
Note: Texas recently updated its interest statutes. While legacy arrearages historically carried a 6% interest rate, new obligations accruing after January 1, 2026, are subject to a 3% rate. Regardless of the rate, the math runs against the obligor.
The Family Code mandates that the court "shall" confirm the amount of arrearages and render a cumulative money judgment. It is a strict mathematical calculation, not a negotiation.
Interest accrues automatically on delinquent payments. Depending on the date the arrears accrued (pre- or post-2026), the principal continues to swell by 3% or 6% annually until satisfied.
You do not lose your right to collect just because the child turned 18. You generally have up to 10 years after the child becomes an adult (or the support obligation terminates) to file for a money judgment.
Clear answers for complex collections.
Do you offer free consultations?
We offer two distinct consultation paths. Because complex child support collections require precise mathematical and legal analysis, standard fees apply unless your arrears have already been confirmed by a judge.
Documented Cases
To qualify for a complimentary case evaluation, you must provide two documents prior to the meeting: 1) A signed Order Confirming Arrears and 2) The underlying Child Support Order. With these in hand, we can immediately assess enforcement options at no cost.
Unconfirmed Arrears
If you do not have a prior order confirming the exact arrearage amount, our standard consultation fee applies. This covers the time required to review your payment history, run statutory interest calculations, and outline the legal steps required to confirm the debt.
Can I still collect child support after my child turns 18?
Yes. In Texas, the right to confirm past-due child support is not lost when a child becomes an adult. A motion for a cumulative money judgment can generally be filed up to ten years after the child turns 18 or the support obligation ends.
What exactly is a child support lien?
A child support lien arises under Chapter 157 of the Texas Family Code and attaches to a parent's non-exempt property for unpaid support and interest. It can reach assets like bank accounts, retirement funds, insurance proceeds, and personal injury settlements without requiring a prior judgment.
How does a child support lien differ from a standard civil judgment?
A standard civil judgment is subject to standard Texas property exemptions, which heavily protect a debtor's assets. However, a child support lien foreclosure can bypass certain exemptions, allowing for the seizure of otherwise protected assets to satisfy the child support debt.
Does the court have the power to reduce the amount I am owed?
No. Under Texas law, the court has no discretion to forgive or reduce confirmed child support arrears. The judge is legally required to tally the exact missed payments plus all accrued statutory interest.
Secure your claim before the money moves.
Child support debt does not expire in Texas, but the opportunity to seize a windfall can vanish in hours. Contact our office to immediately run a dual-track strategy to confirm your arrears and perfect a lien.
