Support awards may be enforced by contempt proceedings against the person failing to pay, by seizing assets to satisfy back-support, or by wage attachment. The court may also order the suspension of licenses for non-payment. Where support is paid according to a court order, a wage attachment is typically mandatory. Employers must comply with wage attachment orders, or contempt proceedings may be brought against them. Most forms of government payments to a person are also subject to attachment to pay support, but special rules apply in the case of veterans’ benefits; support may be obtained directly from the Veterans Administration. Tax refunds may be intercepted for the payment of past-due support. Where support is paid according to an agreement between parties, the agreement may be enforced under the Pennsylvania Divorce Code to the same extent as a court order. A person’s wages may not be garnished in an amount greater than fifty percent of the person’s wages. Agreements or orders entered in other states are similarly enforceable under the Code. Generally, support obligations are not dischargeable in bankruptcy. Alimony obligations may be enforced in the same
manner as child and spousal support orders. By operation of law, a judgment exists by with respect to each support payment on and after the date the payment is due. Overdue support may operate as a lien on real estate. The court may enforce orders entered in a foreign jurisdiction upon registration of such orders in the state of Pennsylvania. The federal Child Support Recovery Act and the Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1998 allow for criminal actions for violation of support obligations in interstate actions. Federal law also provides that the states must give full faith and credit to the support orders of other states.
