Federal officials will begin revoking the U.S. passports of parents who owe $15,000 or more in past-due child support starting October 5, according to the San Juan Daily Star. It marks the sixth time the threshold has dropped since May, when the State Department began proactively revoking passports of parents owing $100,000 or more, as reported by PBS NewsHour. The underlying 1996 federal law reaches anyone owing more than $2,500, and officials have said enforcement will continue to expand toward that figure.
Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. notes that the shift leaves far more Rockland County parents exposed, including those who travel abroad for work or to see family. The firm's child support lawyer in New City, NY represents parents on all sides of support orders, from initial calculations through modification and enforcement.
The implications for parents are significant. Under New York Family Court Act § 451, a court cannot reduce support that accrued before a parent filed a petition to modify the order. A parent who lost a job last year and never filed still owes every payment missed since. New York generally allows a modification after a substantial change in circumstances, after three years have passed, or when either parent's income has changed by 15% or more. However, paying the balance does not restore travel right away. Once arrears are resolved, a parent must apply for a new passport after payment is confirmed, so trips planned on short notice may be lost.
"Most parents who fall behind on child support aren't trying to dodge it. They lost income and assumed the order would adjust on its own," said Paul Goldhamer, founding partner of the firm. "It's important to understand that the order stands until a court changes it, so the time to act is as soon as your finances change."
For readers in Rockland County and beyond, the lowered threshold means that even moderate arrears can now trigger passport revocation, disrupting international travel for work or family visits. Parents who anticipate financial hardship should seek legal advice promptly to explore modification options before arrears accumulate. As enforcement continues to expand, proactive legal steps can help avoid the severe consequence of losing a passport.
