TAMPA, FL, May 19, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — Tampa family law firm The McKinney Law Group is encouraging Florida parents to understand a major shift in federal enforcement before they find out the hard way at an airport.
On May 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of State confirmed that it has begun pulling passports from Americans who owe substantial child support arrears. The first round affects roughly 2,700 passport holders whose past-due balances exceed $100,000, but the agency has signaled that the next phase will reach down to the $2,500 statutory minimum that has been on the books since the late 1990s but rarely used to revoke a passport.
In the past, the rule mostly surfaced when a delinquent parent tried to renew. A current passport sitting in a drawer was, in practice, untouchable. That is no longer the case. The Department of Health and Human Services is now feeding delinquency data directly to the State Department, which means a valid passport can be canceled mid-cycle. Getting a replacement requires clearing the arrears with the state agency and waiting for HHS to update its records.
“This rule has been on the books for almost thirty years, and for most of that time nobody was really enforcing it,” said Damien McKinney, founder of The McKinney Law Group. “I’ve had clients with significant arrears who never had a problem getting or keeping a passport. That’s all about to change.”
McKinney notes that arrears build for all kinds of reasons, like layoffs, serious illness, outdated custody arrangements. Florida law allows parents to petition for modification when circumstances have shifted, but those filings take time and do not erase what has already accrued.
“If you owe back support and you travel for work, or you have family abroad, or you’ve already booked a trip, this is not something to deal with next month,” McKinney said. “Once your passport gets flagged, fixing it often takes quite some time.”
Parents with questions or concerns can contact The McKinney Law Group directly.
About the Firm:
The McKinney Law Group is a family law firm with offices in Florida and North Carolina. Founded by Damien McKinney, the firm focuses on divorce, child custody, child support, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, complex asset cases, appellate matters, and estate planning, and is licensed to handle family law disputes in both states. The firm has been recognized by Super Lawyers, including the Super Lawyers Distinction of Excellence.
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