Division of Child Support Enforcement

License Suspension Program

The License Suspension Program is a federally mandated program to suspend individual licenses for non-payment of child support. The suspension of driver's, professional and recreational licenses was created as an enforcement tool. During State Fiscal Year 2009, 9,558 licenses were suspended which resulted in $2,232,820 being collected on behalf of the children of Mississippi.

Applies To

• Occupational and Professional Licenses Regulated by the State of Mississippi from Physicians to Social Workers and Barbers to Foresters
• Business and Alcoholic Beverages Licenses
• Driver's Licenses and Hunting/Fishing Licenses

Procedure

• When a noncustodial parent has become two months behind in making payments, the licensee will be subject to the licenses suspension procedure. A review may be requested as described below under Due Process.
• Licensing agencies provide information on licensees to MDHS at least quarterly. MDHS runs a database match against a list of delinquent parents.
• MDHS sends a notice to licensees who meet the criteria giving the licensee 90 days to pay the arrears or to work out a payment plan. Note: The stipulated payment plan must be submitted to court for approval.
• If a delinquent parent does nothing or if an agreed payment schedule for the arrears is not reached within the 90-day period, a notice is sent to the licensing agency to suspend the license. A suspended license may be reinstated if the delinquent parent subsequently pays or agrees to a payment plan.
• Additionally, in any contempt proceeding for failure to pay child support, the judge may order license suspension.
• Failure to pay under the agreed judgment will subject the licensee to immediate license suspension.
• Any licensed attorney may apply through MDHS for license information in a non-MDHS case.

Due Process

• Licensee may request a review by MDHS on issues of correct personal identification and state of delinquency.
• Suspension may be appealed to the Chancery Court.

Licensing Agency	Number of Suspensions
Department of Public Safety	8,307
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks	1,204
Board of Education	7
Board of Cosmetology	11
Board of Medical Licensure	2
Professional Licensure (MSDH)	2
Insurance Commission	25
TOTAL	9,558

Contact Information

Mississippi Department of Human Services
Division of Child Support Enforcement
1-877-882-4916 | (601) 359-4861