usc 15 § 1681s–1
Information on overdue child support obligations (COMMERCE AND TRADE (15 U.S.C.))
Operative Text
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, a consumer reporting agency shall include in any consumer report furnished by the agency in accordance with , any information on the failure of the consumer to pay overdue support which— is provided— to the consumer reporting agency by a State or local child support enforcement agency; or to the consumer reporting agency and verified by any local, State, or Federal Government agency; and antedates the report by 7 years or less.
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681s–1, consumer reporting agencies are required to include information about a consumer's unpaid overdue child support obligations in consumer reports, provided that the information comes from a state or local child support enforcement agency or has been verified by a government agency, and that the underlying delinquency occurred no more than seven years before the report is generated. This rule carves out an exception to the general seven-year reporting limits that might otherwise apply under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, specifically to ensure that overdue child support obligations remain visible in credit files. The provision applies uniformly regardless of other subchapter rules that might limit or restrict the reporting of certain negative information.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who review consumer reports as part of tenant screening should be aware that, under 15 U.S.C. § 1681s–1, a report may lawfully contain government-verified overdue child support information dating back up to seven years. Compliant operators who use such reports in housing decisions generally ensure their screening criteria and adverse-action notices account for this category of information in accordance with applicable fair housing and credit reporting obligations. Familiarity with this provision helps operators understand why child support delinquency data may appear on a report even when other negative items of similar age have aged off.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681s–1, consumers have the right to know that overdue child support information reported by or verified through a government agency can lawfully appear on their credit report for up to seven years. If a consumer believes such information is inaccurate, outdated, or does not meet the government-source requirement set out in this provision, they may dispute it directly with the consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act's dispute process. Tenant-rights organizations and nonprofit credit counseling services can help consumers understand their options for reviewing and challenging items that appear on their reports.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.