{"id":3995,"date":"2010-12-24T09:00:13","date_gmt":"2010-12-24T09:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/?p=3995"},"modified":"2026-06-07T00:46:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T04:46:58","slug":"can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I File Bankruptcy if I'm Behind on Child Support or Alimony?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Father<\/a>Yes! You can still file for bankruptcy<\/a> even if you are behind on alimony or child support.\u00a0 However, be aware that child support and alimony payments are non-dischargeable in a bankruptcy.\u00a0 In other words, these debts cannot<\/strong> be wiped out in bankruptcy.<\/p>\n

If you are paying child support or alimony, you may get behind on these payments and the state court may threaten you with jail time for being behind.\u00a0 A Chapter 13 bankruptcy<\/a> will usually allow you get \u201ccaught up\u201d on these payments, avoid jail time, and pay the arrearages on the child support or alimony back through the Chapter 13 plan payments over three to five years making monthly payments to the Chapter 13 Trustee<\/a>. The Chapter 13 Trustee forwards these payments to the person entitled to the child support or alimony.\u00a0 The bankruptcy does not stop present or current child support or alimony payments, but it can help you get caught up on these late payments and avoid possible jail time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yes! You can still file for bankruptcy even if you are behind on alimony or child support.\u00a0 However, be aware that child support and alimony payments are non-dischargeable in a bankruptcy.\u00a0 In other words, these debts cannot be wiped out in bankruptcy. If you are paying child support or alimony, you may get behind on … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4166],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-13-bankruptcy"],"yoast_head":"\nBankruptcy & Child Support Arrears | Duncan Law<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Behind on child support or alimony in NC? You can still file bankruptcy. Learn how Chapter 13 can help you catch up on arrears and avoid jail time.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can I File Bankruptcy if I'm Behind on Child Support or Alimony?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Yes! You can still file for bankruptcy even if you are behind on alimony or child support.\u00a0 However, be aware that child support and alimony payments are\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Duncan Law\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/duncanlawonline\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2010-12-24T09:00:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-07T04:46:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/blog-ch13-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"675\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Damon Duncan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@DuncanLaw\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@DuncanLaw\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Damon Duncan\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Damon Duncan\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f7b4948225deab021c8ba0edbea00655\"},\"headline\":\"Can I File Bankruptcy if I'm Behind on Child Support or Alimony?\",\"datePublished\":\"2010-12-24T09:00:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-07T04:46:58+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":173,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2010\\\/12\\\/AA-Father-Daughter-on-Computer-201x300.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Chapter 13 Bankruptcy\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\\\/\",\"name\":\"Bankruptcy & Child Support Arrears | Duncan Law\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2010\\\/12\\\/AA-Father-Daughter-on-Computer-201x300.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2010-12-24T09:00:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-07T04:46:58+00:00\",\"description\":\"Behind on child support or alimony in NC? You can still file bankruptcy. Learn how Chapter 13 can help you catch up on arrears and avoid jail time.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2010\\\/12\\\/AA-Father-Daughter-on-Computer-201x300.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2010\\\/12\\\/AA-Father-Daughter-on-Computer-201x300.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Can I File Bankruptcy if I'm Behind on Child Support or Alimony?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Duncan Law\",\"description\":\"Bankruptcy attorneys getting a fresh financial start for those in North Carolina.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Duncan Law, LLP\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/staging\\\/8350\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/06\\\/Duncan-Law-Logo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/staging\\\/8350\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/06\\\/Duncan-Law-Logo.jpg\",\"width\":1,\"height\":1,\"caption\":\"Duncan Law, LLP\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/duncanlawonline\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/DuncanLaw\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/duncan-law-pllc---north-carolina-law-firm\"],\"description\":\"Duncan Law, LLP is a North Carolina bankruptcy law firm helping individuals and families find relief from debt since 1996. With a board-certified bankruptcy specialist on staff, we guide clients through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy from offices in Greensboro, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Asheville, High Point, and Salisbury.\",\"email\":\"damonduncan@duncanlawonline.com\",\"telephone\":\"+1-336-856-1234\",\"legalName\":\"Duncan Law, LLP\",\"foundingDate\":\"1996-01-01\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f7b4948225deab021c8ba0edbea00655\",\"name\":\"Damon Duncan\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0860bfb51834492373565e7f54c76f359af1bc371f1ee7145faa06c8d0a0538d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0860bfb51834492373565e7f54c76f359af1bc371f1ee7145faa06c8d0a0538d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/0860bfb51834492373565e7f54c76f359af1bc371f1ee7145faa06c8d0a0538d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Damon Duncan\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/staging\\\/8350\\\/author\\\/dlo\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Bankruptcy & Child Support Arrears | Duncan Law","description":"Behind on child support or alimony in NC? You can still file bankruptcy. Learn how Chapter 13 can help you catch up on arrears and avoid jail time.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Can I File Bankruptcy if I'm Behind on Child Support or Alimony?","og_description":"Yes! You can still file for bankruptcy even if you are behind on alimony or child support.\u00a0 However, be aware that child support and alimony payments are","og_url":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/","og_site_name":"Duncan Law","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/duncanlawonline","article_published_time":"2010-12-24T09:00:13+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-06-07T04:46:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":675,"url":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/blog-ch13-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Damon Duncan","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@DuncanLaw","twitter_site":"@DuncanLaw","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Damon Duncan","Est. reading time":"1 minute"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/"},"author":{"name":"Damon Duncan","@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/#\/schema\/person\/f7b4948225deab021c8ba0edbea00655"},"headline":"Can I File Bankruptcy if I'm Behind on Child Support or Alimony?","datePublished":"2010-12-24T09:00:13+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-07T04:46:58+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/"},"wordCount":173,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/AA-Father-Daughter-on-Computer-201x300.jpg","articleSection":["Chapter 13 Bankruptcy"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/","url":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/","name":"Bankruptcy & Child Support Arrears | Duncan Law","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/AA-Father-Daughter-on-Computer-201x300.jpg","datePublished":"2010-12-24T09:00:13+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-07T04:46:58+00:00","description":"Behind on child support or alimony in NC? You can still file bankruptcy. Learn how Chapter 13 can help you catch up on arrears and avoid jail time.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/AA-Father-Daughter-on-Computer-201x300.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/AA-Father-Daughter-on-Computer-201x300.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/can-i-file-bankruptcy-if-behind-on-child-support-or-alimony\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Can I File Bankruptcy if I'm Behind on Child Support or Alimony?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/","name":"Duncan Law","description":"Bankruptcy attorneys getting a fresh financial start for those in North Carolina.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/#organization","name":"Duncan Law, LLP","url":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Duncan-Law-Logo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Duncan-Law-Logo.jpg","width":1,"height":1,"caption":"Duncan Law, LLP"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/duncanlawonline","https:\/\/x.com\/DuncanLaw","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/duncan-law-pllc---north-carolina-law-firm"],"description":"Duncan Law, LLP is a North Carolina bankruptcy law firm helping individuals and families find relief from debt since 1996. With a board-certified bankruptcy specialist on staff, we guide clients through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy from offices in Greensboro, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Asheville, High Point, and Salisbury.","email":"damonduncan@duncanlawonline.com","telephone":"+1-336-856-1234","legalName":"Duncan Law, LLP","foundingDate":"1996-01-01"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/#\/schema\/person\/f7b4948225deab021c8ba0edbea00655","name":"Damon Duncan","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0860bfb51834492373565e7f54c76f359af1bc371f1ee7145faa06c8d0a0538d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0860bfb51834492373565e7f54c76f359af1bc371f1ee7145faa06c8d0a0538d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0860bfb51834492373565e7f54c76f359af1bc371f1ee7145faa06c8d0a0538d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Damon Duncan"},"url":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/author\/dlo\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3995"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3995\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14061,"href":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3995\/revisions\/14061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}