Utah Office of Recovery Services

Child support enforcement:
what ORS can (and can't) do

ORS is Utah's official child support enforcement agency. It's free to use, has access to enforcement tools no private attorney has, and it works across state lines. Most parents never use it — which means billions in uncollected support.

ors.utah.gov1-800-257-9156Multiple Utah locations
What is ORS?

The Office of Recovery Services (ORS) is a division of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. It is the state agency responsible for establishing, enforcing, and collecting child support — and in some cases, medical support and alimony — under Utah Code § 62A-11.

ORS is federally funded and free to open a case. You do not need an attorney to use ORS. When a parent owes you child support and isn't paying, ORS is almost always the fastest and cheapest first step.

Who can open a case?
Any custodial parent with a Utah child support order, or a parent who needs one established.
Is there a fee?
No fee if you've received TANF or Medicaid. A $35/year fee applies to private cases once $550+ is collected.
Does my ex have to live in Utah?
No. ORS works with agencies in all 50 states and many countries under UIFSA.
Do I need a lawyer?
No. ORS represents the state's interest in collecting support — not you personally. You can open a case without an attorney.
Enforcement tools — how ORS collects

ORS has legal powers that no private individual has. Here are all the tools available — from automatic wage garnishment to passport denial.

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Income Withholding (Wage Garnishment)
Trigger: Automatic

ORS sends an income withholding order directly to the paying parent's employer. Child support is deducted from every paycheck before the parent sees it — no payment, no delay. This is the most common and effective enforcement tool.

Utah Code § 26B-9-303
Tip: If the paying parent changes jobs, you must notify ORS immediately so the order can follow them to the new employer.
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State & Federal Tax Refund Interception
Trigger: Tax season

If a parent owes more than $150 in past-due support (or $500 if the child is not on public assistance), ORS can intercept their state and federal tax refunds and apply them to the arrears.

26 U.S.C. § 6402(c)
Tip: If the paying parent files jointly with a new spouse, the new spouse can file an injured spouse claim to protect their portion of the refund.
·
Driver License Suspension
Trigger: After 30 days past-due

ORS can suspend a Utah driver license when support is 30 or more days past-due. Professional licenses (nursing, contractor, attorney) and recreational licenses (hunting, fishing) can also be suspended.

Utah Code § 26B-9-502
Tip: Many paying parents get current on support quickly when they learn their license is at risk — this threat alone often works.
·
Bank Account Levy
Trigger: Varies

ORS can freeze and seize funds from a delinquent parent's bank or financial accounts to satisfy past-due support. ORS works with institutions across Utah and nationally through interstate cooperation.

Utah Code § 26B-9-208
Tip: Joint accounts can be levied. If you have a joint account with the paying parent that you rely on, close or separate it before enforcement begins.
·
Property Lien
Trigger: When arrears accumulate

ORS can place a lien on real property (homes, land) owned by the non-paying parent. The lien must be satisfied before the property can be sold or refinanced.

Utah Code § 26B-9-110
Tip: A property lien doesn't force a sale, but it makes the debt impossible to ignore when the parent tries to move or refinance.
·
Passport Denial
Trigger: When arrears exceed $2,500

Once past-due support exceeds $2,500, ORS can report the case to the federal government, triggering a denial or revocation of the non-paying parent's U.S. passport.

42 U.S.C. § 652(k)
Tip: This is a federal tool — it works even if the parent has moved out of Utah.
·
Contempt of Court
Trigger: When other tools fail

If a parent willfully refuses to pay despite having the ability, ORS (or you, with an attorney) can file for contempt of court. A judge can impose fines or jail time. Courts treat willful non-payment seriously.

Utah Code § 78B-6-301
Tip: Contempt requires proving the parent had the ability to pay but chose not to. Document any evidence of income or assets you observe.
·
Interstate Enforcement (UIFSA)
Trigger: When parent lives out of state

Under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, ORS works with child support agencies in other states (and countries) to enforce your Utah order. You do not need to hire an attorney in the other state.

Utah Code Title 81, Chapter 8 (UIFSA)
Tip: File your case with ORS even if your ex has moved — interstate cases are free and ORS handles all coordination.
Past-due support (arrears) — Utah's interest rate

Each missed child support payment becomes a judgment as it comes due (Utah Code § 81-7-102(4)(a)), and as a judgment it carries Utah's general judgment rate: the federal post-judgment rate as of January 1 that year, plus 2% (Utah Code § 15-1-4(3)(a)). Because that benchmark moves each year, there is no single fixed percentage. Separately, beginning July 1, 2027, delinquent child support accrues a flat 6%, charged on the principal only (§ 81-7-102(7)). ORS tracks and collects arrears in addition to current support — you do not need to calculate this yourself.

Rate now
Federal post-judgment rate + 2%
From July 1, 2027
6% on principal
Statutes
§ 81-7-102, § 15-1-4
What ORS cannot do

ORS is powerful — but it has real limits. Knowing these upfront saves frustration.

✕
ORS cannot help if there is no court order
ORS enforces existing court orders only. If child support was never ordered by a court, ORS cannot collect. If you have an informal agreement — even a signed one — you need to get a formal court order first.
✕
ORS cannot speed up the court process
ORS enforcement actions that require a court hearing (like contempt) are subject to court scheduling, which can take months. ORS does not control court calendars.
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ORS may prioritize cases with a state interest
If the custodial parent has received TANF or Medicaid, ORS may have assigned some of the support to the state as reimbursement. In those cases, some collected money goes to the state before reaching you.
✕
ORS does not provide legal advice
ORS caseworkers administer your account but they are not your attorneys. They cannot advise you on whether to modify your order, how to respond to a custody dispute, or how to handle unusual circumstances.
✕
ORS enforcement is not instant
Even with a valid order, it can take weeks or months for ORS to locate an employer, serve an income withholding order, or apply a levy. Persistence and regular check-ins with your caseworker help.
✕
ORS charges a fee if you never received public assistance
If you have never received TANF or Medicaid, federal law requires ORS to charge an annual $35 fee once more than $550 in support has been collected in a year. This is deducted from collected support, not billed to you directly.
Need to track your case?
divvi's dashboard lets you log every payment, flag missed payments, and keep all enforcement records in one place — so nothing falls through the cracks.
Go to dashboard →Open ORS case ↗

Frequently asked questions

How do I open an ORS case?

Apply online at ors.utah.gov or call 1-800-257-9156. You can also apply in person at any ORS office. There is no fee to open a case if you are or have been on public assistance. For private cases (no public assistance), the $35 annual fee applies once thresholds are met.

What information does ORS need from me?

To open a case: the other parent's full legal name, last known address, Social Security number (if known), employer name and address (if known), and a copy of your court order. The more information you can provide, the faster enforcement can begin.

Can I collect past-due support (arrears)?

Yes. ORS enforces both current support and arrears. Each missed payment becomes a judgment as it comes due (Utah Code § 81-7-102(4)(a)) and carries Utah's general judgment interest rate — the federal post-judgment rate plus 2% (§ 15-1-4(3)(a)), which changes each January. Beginning July 1, 2027 a flat 6% applies to delinquent support, on the principal only. ORS pursues all past-due amounts, not just current payments.

What is the Utah Child Support Payment Registry?

All child support payments in Utah must be processed through the Office of Recovery Services payment center (not paid directly between parties). This creates an official, court-admissible payment record. Paying directly to the other parent, even by check, may not count as a 'payment' in court.

What if the paying parent claims to be unemployed?

ORS can request an employment search, access state wage and new hire databases, and ask the court to impute income (assign an income based on earning capacity). Courts do not allow parents to simply declare themselves unemployed to avoid support.

Can I still use ORS if we agreed to modify support?

Verbal or informal modifications have no legal effect. If you and your ex agree to change the amount, you must file a formal modification with the court. Until the court modifies the order, the original amount is still legally owed — even if you agreed otherwise.

What if my ex is self-employed or paid in cash?

ORS has tools to investigate self-employment income including bank levies, subpoenas for business records, and cooperation with the IRS. Self-employment is harder to enforce but not impossible. Keeping records of any evidence of income (social media, lifestyle, vehicles) helps your case.

Does ORS handle medical support?

Yes. If your order includes a requirement for the other parent to provide health insurance or contribute to medical expenses, ORS can enforce it through a National Medical Support Notice sent to the parent's employer.

Utah Custody & Parenting

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