Often, some of the most contentious aspects of a couple’s divorce involve their children. Aside from the many challenges that can surface as a result of child custody issues, other legal matters involving kids can be very difficult to deal with as well—even years after the divorce is over. For example, child support payments can raise a number of concerns, especially if a non-custodial parent is unable to stay current or refuses to make payments. In this post, we will examine some of the consequences of back child support.
First of all, the financial penalties for falling behind on child support can be staggering. A parent who becomes delinquent may have their wages garnished or their tax refund intercepted. Looking beyond finances, missing child support payments can create a lot of emotional strain, not only for those required to pay but for custodial parents and kids too. Someone who misses their child support may never be able to restore their reputation with certain family members and even others in the community, even if they were unable to stay current due to the loss of their job or some other hardship. In fact, back child support can even prevent one from getting a passport and it can interfere with many other facets of one’s life.
For these reasons, it is imperative for those who are obligated to pay child support to stay current. Some people feel hopeless and think that they will never be able to pay what they owe, but there may be legal options on the table, such as child support modification, which could help immensely.
