On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in child support on Friday, August 24, 2018.
Oftentimes, married parents in Jackson County might have difficulties supporting themselves and their children. One can only imagine how much more difficult such as task becomes if and when such a couple chooses to divorce. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that as recently as 2015, over $33.7 billion was owed in child support. With such a large sum of money at stake (along with the well-being of those that are owed it), it should come as little surprise that family courts take the issue of child support enforcement so seriously.
One effective method in resolving child support arrears has been to restrict the privileges of those that owe them. Many states will even suspend the driver’s licenses of obligor parents in such situations; Missouri is among them. Per Section 454.1003 of the state’s Revised Statutes, one subject to a child support obligation can have his or her driver’s license suspended in any of the following situations:
- He or she owes an amount in child support arrears equaling either the sum of three months worth of payments or $2500
- He or she fails to comply with a subpoena from the court concerning the modification of an existing child support order
- He or she fails to comply with a subpoena from the court concerning the establishment of paternity
- He or she fails to comply with a subpoena from the court over matters related to genetic testing
Once an obligor has been provided notice that the court intends to suspend his or her license for any of the aforementioned reasons, he or she has 60 days to either pay the entirety of what is owed (or enter into a payment plan to cover it) or request a hearing to discuss the matter before the actual license suspension goes into effect.
