Seminole Child Support Enforcement Lawyer
Child support typically involves the non-custodial parent making a monthly payment to the parent with primary custody. This is not an optional payment. Instead, the amount is set in a legally binding order. Any parent who fails to pay child support can face serious repercussions. The state wants parents to support their children so that they don’t end up on public assistance. And to that end, a delinquent parent can have their wages garnished or their license suspended, among other consequences.
Below, our Seminole child support enforcement lawyer looks at the different options the state has to get parents to pay. We highly encourage you to speak with an attorney at our firm if you need help with enforcement or if there are reasons you cannot pay.
Repercussions for Failure to Pay Child Support
The state can take any of the following actions:
- Wage garnishment. Your employer will withhold a specific amount from your regular paycheck and send it to the state, who will then forward it to the other parent. Some parents try to get paid under the table to avoid wage garnishment, but the state has other options.
- Interception of tax refund. If you are expecting a refund for taxes, the state will grab it and apply it to your unpaid child support balance.
- Suspension of licenses. The state can suspend any license it has given you, including a driver’s license. This suspension can make it hard to get to work. If you drive with a suspended license, then you are committing a crime and can face other consequences.
- Passport suspension. The government might suspend your passport so you cannot legally leave and re-enter the country.
- Seizure of assets. The state might try to seize assets, like a bank account, and apply the proceeds to unpaid child support.
- Contempt. A judge can find a parent in contempt of court for not paying child support as ordered. To encourage payment, the judge might fine the parent or even send them to jail.
A parent has a legal right to seek a modification if they can no longer pay the court-ordered amount of support. However, you should move fast—the current child support order is not suspended just because you can’t pay. Some people are in jail but they must continue to make payment until the judge modifies the order.
How the Seminole Child Support Enforcement Lawyers at The Reep Law Firm Can Help
Custodial parents often work directly with the state to have the child support order enforced, though you can also hire your own lawyer. Our firm can also defend either parent in an enforcement action. Call our office to speak with a Seminole child support enforcement lawyer to find out more about your options.
Our firm is prepared to fight wage garnishment or the levying of assets. We can also argue you must keep your driver’s license so you can continue to work. At the same time, we can request a modification so that child support arrearages do not continue to pile up. Contact us today.
