Child support exists to help ensure that children enjoy a baseline standard of living. The courts consider factors including the income of both parents, the unique needs of the children and the division of parenting time when ordering financial support.
The recipient parent may rely on child support to pay their mortgage, rent or other critical recurring household bills. Unfortunately, paying parents often resent the obligation to provide financial support. Some people go to great lengths to try to avoid their financial obligation to their children.
How can a recipient parent address a failure to fulfill child support obligations?
Asking the courts for enforcement
Child support is an obligation established by a court order. The failure to fulfill that responsibility can lead to legal consequences. In cases where the recipient parent or children receive certain forms of state aid, child support enforcement efforts may be automatic.
Other times, the recipient parent may need to petition the courts for enforcement. The state has many ways to enforce a child support order. Garnishing an individual’s wages is common.
The state can also intercept gambling/lottery winnings or income tax returns. In some cases, people who have fallen far into arrears on child support could be at risk of losing or becoming unable to renew state licenses. Other times, they could face allegations of being in contempt of court. They could even be at risk of incarceration for protracted and repeated violations of a child support order.
Asking for child support enforcement can help parents who share custody and do not receive the assistance they require. A parent who refuses to pay child support could face a variety of consequences for their non-compliance.