Under state law (N.D.C.C. § 35-34-02.1), Child Support must maintain a child support Lien Registry. The Lien Registry is a list of obligors who owe past-due child support that is being enforced by Child Support. The Lien Registry is a public site that may be searched by anyone at any time. The Lien Registry is updated weekly, usually on Wednesday night.

Some obligors who are listed on the Lien Registry are making regular payments to reduce the past-due support; even so, if an obligor owes any amount of past-due support on a case receiving full service, the obligor will appear on the Lien Registry. Some child support cases in North Dakota are not receiving full services; the obligors in these cases will not appear on the Lien Registry.

In general, for an obligor who is listed on the Lien Registry, any real or titled personal property that the obligor has or later acquires in North Dakota is subject to a lien. The obligor's homestead or other property that is absolutely exempt under state law is not subject to a lien. The lien record on the Lien Registry does not identify a specific piece of property to which a lien applies.

In general, a lien is effective on the date the obligor is first listed on the Lien Registry. Some obligors may have docketed child support judgments against them that were entered before the Lien Registry was implemented (March 1, 2012). The docketed judgment amount might be included in the "child support arrears" amount on the lien record but the docketed judgment date is not shown.

Child support liens do not expire. An obligor will only be removed from the Lien Registry when the past-due support that is being enforced by CS is paid in full. To pay by check or money order, contact Child Support for the payoff amount. To help assure proper crediting of the payment, please print and complete this transmittal and send it, with the payment, to the address on the transmittal. To pay by credit or debit card, contact Child Support for the payoff amount and instructions.