Divorcing when you have children can be a highly stressful and emotionally charged experience. In these situations, it is common for child support payments to be required of the parent that does not have full custody. When you find yourself facing these payments, you will want to have a strong understanding about the legalities and liabilities that they will involve so that you can be prepared to fulfill your obligations while protecting your rights.
Are There Any Consequences That Can Come From Failing To Pay Child Support?
If a person fails to pay their share of child support, they may face a range of penalties. These penalties can include but are not limited to wage garnishments, loss of visitation rights, arrest for contempt of court, and fines. The exact penalties that can be involved for this are determined by the states, which means that there can be a rather wide range of the penalties involved. If you have a history of failing to make child support payments, you may want to schedule an appointment with an experienced child support attorney so that you can evaluate your options for the best solution for making these back payments.
Do You Have Options If You Are Unable To Make Your Child Support Payment?
Generally, the courts will make a great effort to ensure that the required child support payments will not cause significant distress. Unfortunately, your financial situation can undergo dramatic changes over your life. If you find yourself unemployed or facing other financial hardships, you may not be able to afford to make these payments. In order to minimize the risks of legal issues due to these financial problems, you should know that you can petition the court to adjust the child support payment. For example, if you lose your job, it is possible to petition the court to temporarily suspend or reduce your child support obligations. Once you have landed a new job, you will be able to resume these payments, and while this may be an option that people usually want to avoid, it can be the only course of legal relief when you are facing these issues.
Child support is a major component of any divorce that involves children. Sadly, child support payments are often not understood by those responsible for making them. Knowing the consequences of failing to pay child support as well as the ability to file a petition for temporary or permanent child support relief can allow you to be better prepared to meet this responsibility. You can talk to a child support lawyer for more clarification.
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