Pinellas County Child Support And Enforcement Efforts

When parents are divorced or unmarried and otherwise not together, child support helps to ensure their children are provided for properly. Obtaining a formal child support order in Pinellas County helps ensure the appropriate payment is paid. It also allows for enforcement efforts. Our Seminole child support attorney explains more about the process.

Getting A Child Support Order In Pinellas County

Under the Florida Statutes, parents have both a moral and legal duty to provide for their children. For those who are going through a divorce or are unmarried, this includes making the appropriate child support payments.

Child custody and support are routinely addressed as part of divorce proceedings in the Pinellas County Family Court. For single parents, child support may also be ordered in the aftermath of paternity proceedings. Factors a judge will consider in determining the amount of support that gets paid include:

• The amount of income each parent has;
• The total value of their individual property and assets;
• The amount of time the child spends in each parent’s home;
• Any special needs the child has, such as regarding their education or medical care.

In some cases, parents are reluctant to put a formal child support order in place, preferring instead to rely on informal arrangements between themselves. The problem with this is that if one parent refuses to pay, you have few options in terms of enforcement efforts.

Enforcing Formal Child Support Orders In Florida 

Taking the steps needed to obtain a formal child support order through the Family Court provides important benefits. In addition to ensuring your child gets the total amount they are entitled to, it also helps in ensuring this amount gets paid.

If the paying parent is late, fails to pay the total amount owed, or misses several payments, they can be subject to enforcement actions through the Florida Department of Revenue. Options available to get you and your child the amount you are owed include:

• Wage garnishment;
• Seizure of assets in bank accounts;
• Seizure of certain government benefits, tax refunds, and lottery winnings;
• Property liens against their home, car, or other items;
• Suspension of their driver’s license or any professional licenses they hold;
• Potential time spent in jail until payment arrangements are made.

Our Seminole Child Support Attorney Is Here To Help

As a parent, your top priority is making sure your child is provided for properly. Child support payments in Pinellas County help in providing the financial support needed to cover their basic needs and other costs. Unfortunately, getting the other parent to pay often proves challenging.

Obtaining a formal child support order through the Pinellas County Family Court provides important protections and helps ensure you and your child get the total amount you are entitled to. For trusted legal guidance in putting a child support order in place or in taking enforcement actions, reach out to The Reep Law Firm. To request a consultation with our Seminole child support attorney, call or contact our office online today.

Sources:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.30.html

mypinellasclerk.org/Home/Family

floridarevenue.com/childsupport/Pages/default.aspx