Courts in every state are authorized to withhold child support from the income of a “non-custodial” parent that is late on its child support payments. It can be difficult for a “custodial” parent to know when it is appropriate to assert a claim that could lead to an order to withhold the “non-custodial” parent’s income. But “custodial” parents who have no other resource or have had significant problems getting the “non-custodial” parent to pay the child support will have a sure remedy.
No only is the remedy sure for back payments, but it will also ensure future payments. The “non-custodial” parent will not have the option to pay, but the government will force his or her employer to withdraw the child support amount from the “non-custodial” parent’s regular paycheck.
Not only can the government withhold the child support from their wages but also from:
1. Federal income tax refunds.
2. State income tax refunds.
3. Liens placed on property.
4. Forced sale of property.
In order to get the government to order such withholdings the “custodial” parent will need to report to the court the default of payments. In such cases the court may also take other actions.
One such action is that child support arrears can be reported automatically to credit reporting agencies. This will cause the “non-custodial” parent’s credit score to fall. The government can also suspend driver’s and other occupational or recreational licenses. The US Department of State may deny the “non-custodial” parent a passport. The government may also freeze the “non-custodial” parent’s bank accounts and other assets. Certain states make it a criminal offense to fail to pay child support and all states are required to aggressively pursue child support orders issued from other states.
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