Washington child support arrears forgiveness

ESTIMATE — based on the rules Washington published, checked October 2026. Only the agency can approve a reduction, and approvals are discretionary.

What can be reduced

DCS may accept offers of compromise of disputed claims and grant partial or total charge-off of arrears owed to the department, up to the total public assistance paid. Conference Board decides on hardship to the paying parent's household, compromise of disputed claims, collection cost > debt, or error/legal defect. Payee's rights are expressly not prejudiced — the family's slice is untouched

Who may be eligible to apply

• Parents owing support debt to the Department (DSHS/DCS)

Where to apply

Request a Conference Board orally or in writing at any DCS office (WAC 388-14A-6405)

The split still decides it

State-owed (assigned) arrears are the state's to compromise. Family-owed arrears can only be reduced by the other parent's voluntary, documented agreement — no agency can force it. Tennessee is the verified inversion: family-owed arrears are the compromisable slice there with court approval, and state-owed cannot be forgiven. If you do not know your split, the first move is a written request to the agency for the split as separate lines.

Interest and limits

Interest: no verified interest rate is published for this state on this site, so the calculator shows principal only unless you enter a rate from your own judgment or order — labeled as your figure.

Passport / license: DCS certifies to DOL when the debt exceeds 6 months of support; signing a payment agreement stays certification, and default on the agreement lets DCS resume with no new notice if >6 months is owed (WAC 388-14A-4520) — verified example, sizing §5.1. WA lets the obligor sign a written waiver/extension of the limitations bar as part of a compromise (RCW 74.20A.220) — a settlement can revive/extinguish defenses (sizing §5.2 trap)

What no one can do: a judge cannot erase arrears that already accrued for hardship, job loss, or incarceration when no modification was filed at the time (Bradley Amendment, 42 U.S.C. §666(a)(9)(C)). Arrears are not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

Federal lines: arrears over $2,500 can be certified for passport denial or revocation; only the state agency can request a release, and release practice is set by the state.

Run the arrears decoder for Washington

Source: RCW 74.20A.220 + WAC 388-14A-6400 to -6415 — statute + regulation text verified ◆ · Rules checked October 2026.