What Happens If You Don’t Pay Child Support

What happens if two individuals get married and didn’t get along with each other? They usually divorce. If they have a child below 18 years old, one gets custody and the other gets to pay child support. What could happen if the non-custodial parent does not follow court order to provide financial support for the child?

What Happens When You Don’t Pay

After not paying for a couple of months, you will most likely receive a notice on your mailbox. It will usually remind and encourage you of the amount you failed to pay. Note that the consequences below will happen even if you don’t receive this letter.

There are various ways on how the custodial parent, child support agency or court could collect the ones you failed to pay. It could be through lien, which is when your properties like real estate and car are held. Most states also publicize the list of individuals with properties on hold due to non-payment of child support. Seizing bank accounts is also common. Your licenses including the one for driving, hunting and fishing may also be suspended. Your professional license may also be included. The court may also meddle with other things such as your retirement funds and insurance settlements. A lot of deadbeat parents have suffered a big reduction on their funds due to nonpayment of child support.

Worse, you can be charged with contempt of court (because the amount and schedule of child support is usually ordered by a judge). You may be fined or jailed. According to Livestrong, the severity depends whether or not it is your first time to miss payments.

Some Tips to Help You Pay on Time

One of the most common reasons of parents not capable of paying their child support is the lack of income. When this happens, make sure to notify the child support agency. You can also request for a review if your income decreases (i.e. due to demotion) or your financial needs increases. Changing the payment plan can also be done when you used to be supporting two or more children but one reaches the emancipation age. Note that some states also require the emancipated child to finish high school or college. The rules and guidelines vary from state to state.

It is important that you don’t go behind child support payments. If you are in financial trouble, see to it that the court knows it by requesting a child support review. The amount can be reduced. Never miss payments because there are serious consequences since all states hold that every child deserves the support from both parents. Visit this site to know more about child support payments.