On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in child support on Tuesday, July 12, 2016.
If you have been ordered to pay child support, it is critical that you take this obligation very seriously. Not only are your contributions essential to the well-being of your child, but they are also enforced by Missouri courts.
In the event that you fail to keep up with your payments, you will be held accountable. In many cases, you could face contentious battles with your ex that make co-parenting far more difficult. It this doesn’t happen or if it doesn’t seem so bad, you should know that you can also be facing legal repercussions from the state.
There are many different steps the courts can take to enforce child support orders if a parent refuses to pay or falls behind. As noted in this child support brochure, a delinquent parent could face:
- Garnished wages
- Loss of lottery winnings, tax refunds and government benefits
- Suspended driver’s license
- Suspended professional license
- Contempt of court charges
- Jail time
These consequences can seriously disrupt a person’s life, job, relationships and financial stability, so it is important that you work to avoid them.
In order to do this, you should make your payments in full and on time. If you miss a payment or are concerned that an upcoming payment could be late, communicating with the other parent in advance could help to minimize any contention. If paying child support consistently becomes a challenge due to circumstances like job loss or increased medical expenses, you can consult an attorney regarding the possibility of seeking a support modification order.
Whatever you do, you should understand that you cannot run or hide from your child support obligations as a parent. You can, however, work with your attorney to secure a fair child support payment plan and regularly review that plan to make sure it continues to be appropriate.
