RCW 26.18.050 · 6% Interest
Calculate unpaid child support arrears and the 6% annual interest required by Washington law. Estimate how long it will take to pay off back child support.
Payments made during missed period
Washington charges 6% annual interest on unpaid child support under RCW 26.18.050. Interest accrues from the date each payment was due. Failure to pay can lead to license suspension, wage garnishment, and contempt of court.
Enter your order details to calculate arrears and interest.
In Washington State, when a parent fails to pay their court-ordered child support, the unpaid amount is called arrears or back child support. Arrears are a legal debt that is enforceable by the court and the Division of Child Support (DCS).
Under RCW 26.18.050, all past-due child support payments automatically accrue interest at the rate of 6% per annum. This interest is mandatory and cannot be waived by a judge unless specifically allowed by limited state programs for state-owed debt.
The state has powerful tools to collect child support arrears, including:
No. In Washington State, child support judgments do not expire. Arrears remain a valid debt until paid in full, even after the child reaches adulthood.
6% annual interest under RCW 26.18.050. Accrues from the date each payment was due.
State cannot forgive arrears owed to other parent without their consent. Courts can compromise state-owed arrears in some cases.