The Department for Communities is consulting on proposals in the Child Support Enforcement Bill, which will enhance enforcement and collection powers within the Child Maintenance Service.

The proposals include the use of an administrative liability order to collect child maintenance from a person who has failed to pay child maintenance.

A liability order is legal recognition of a debt and is required before the Child Maintenance Service can take enhanced enforcement actions against non-compliant parents to collect child maintenance.

The new administrative liability order is intended to replace the current court-based liability order process, and substantially reduce the time it takes for the Child Maintenance Service to initiate its strongest enforcement powers.

The consultation will run until Sunday 29 September 2024.