Child Support Payment Enforcement

Lawyers Guide

In an ideal world every non-custodial parent would pay child support voluntarily. Of course this does not always happen, and it is often necessary to take steps to enforce a support order through the court system, a local government agency, or a private attorney.

  • ContentChild Support and Welfare Benefits

    Often, when a person collects welfare payments from the government, he or she will see a reduction in this amount based on how much the ex-spouse provides for the child.

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  • ContentChild Support in Arrears - How Far Back Can a Court Order You to Pay?

    When a noncustodial parent fails to ensure child support monies transfer to the ex-spouse, both state and federal laws will kickstart the local courts to enact procedures to force the parent to provide back pay. In these situations, the individual is in arrears and may need to increase deposits until the back-pay amounts are no longer a problem.

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  • ContentChild Support Payments When There Is Joint Custody

    Child support after the parents are no longer in a marriage together is usually necessary to ensure that the child has assistance and help throughout his or her years as a minor. There are instances where joint custody may lower payments because both parents provide the same support and help throughout the visitation and custody periods.

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  • ContentEnforcing Child Support in U.S. Courts When the Child Lives Overseas

    In the modern, global world, it is not uncommon for people to migrate from one country to another. Unfortunately, doing so can complicate family issues, particularly after a divorce or when children are involved.

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  • ContentHow Do I Garnish Wages for Child Support?

    In a typical debtor/creditor case, a creditor must go to court and get a judgment against a debtor before it can take part in collection efforts on the debt, such as garnishment or property assignments. Parents who are not receiving the support that they are entitled to receive per an existing court order do not typically have to go through the process of getting a judgment to have wages automatically withheld from the other parent’s wages.

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  • ContentWhen Nonpayment of Child Support is Criminalized

    The parent with the most income from a career or when taking on financial projects is usually the one tasked with paying child support for the person that has primary custody. This is usually the father, but in some circumstances, the mother is the individual that must provide monetary support.

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  • ContentWhen Can a Person be Prosecuted for Not Paying Child Support?

    While there are no debtor prisons anymore, it is still possible for a person to face criminal penalties when he or she fails to pay court-ordered child support. When such criminal penalties can result varies depending on which law is being pursued.

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  • ContentCan the State Place a Lien on Property for Back-Due Child Support?

    Child support is often ordered in a divorce case or paternity action so that one parent provides financial support to the other parent for the benefit of their child. In many cases, a parent gets behind on his or her child support obligation.

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  • ContentCan Social Security Be Taken Away for Child Support?

    Depending on what kind of Social Security benefits a person receives, it is possible that the courts may order child support payments be taken out of the benefit amount paid to the recipient in order to cover what he or she owes for the child.

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  • ContentChild Support and Welfare Benefits

    Often, when a person collects welfare payments from the government, he or she will see a reduction in this amount based on how much the ex-spouse provides for the child.

    Read more
  • ContentHow Do Support Orders Get Enforced

    While the first step in getting child or spousal support is to get a court order, this is only the beginning of the process. Unfortunately, many support orders go unpaid. However, there are a variety of ways that such orders can be enforced.

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  • ContentHow to Establish Paternity in Child Support and Custody Disputes

    When a married couple has a child, most jurisdictions presume that the husband is the father of the child (even if he is not). When an unmarried couple has a child, on the other hand, it is usually necessary to establish paternity as soon as possible after the baby is born. This protects the mother, the baby, and the father, by establishing everyone's rights with regard to one another, such as visitation, support, and inheritance.

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  • ContentStatutes of Limitation on Back Child Support

    State laws determine how and when a person can be ordered to pay child support. Additionally, these laws dictate the window in which a person can collect arrearages.

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  • ContentPersonal Injury Settlement for Parent Owing Back-Child Support - Will Settlement Automatically Go to

    It is important to understand how a settlement works when the noncustodial parent has back child support that needs payment, and these situations may not work in favor of the custodial parent. There are some obligations that may take this settlement amount, but other concerns may give the person the ability to keep a portion of the awards.

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  • ContentUsing the Motion for Contempt to Collect Child Support

    In family law cases, if there are children there is child support. And most states now require an order for support anytime the court considers children’s issues. But unfortunately, getting an order for child support and collecting child support are two separate jobs. A common procedure for enforcing child support is the Motion for Contempt.

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  • ContentWhat Can I Do if My Spouse Is Not Paying Child Support?

    tates are responsible for establishing laws surrounding the award, collection and enforcement of child support. Parents often contest child support matters, believing that the other parent is being unfair. There are several enforcement mechanisms that can be imposed when a parent does not pay child support.

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  • ContentGarnishment of Disability or Social Security Income for Child Support

    Failure to pay child support may result in a court order to the non-paying parent's employer to take - or garnish - that support payment directly out of that parent's wages. When the disability benefits or Social Security income is a temporary matter for the parent, it is usually possible to petition the courts for hardship for lack of income.

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