When parents are no longer together, the court often orders a child support payment to be made. It is an ongoing payment that ensures a child receives basic things he or she needs. But several reasons, such as job loss, spite, and so on, may cause the paying parent to miss out on payment. And it depends on how far behind on child support before a warrant is issued against the paying parent. However, several consequences may arise when child support is not paid by the paying parent. Below we highlight some of the potential legal penalties for missing child support payments.
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Garnishment of Your Wages
Wage garnishment is a legal instruction a court can send to a third party, such as your employer or garnishee, to withhold or deduct child support from your paycheck. Also, how far behind in child support before a warrant is issued depends on the state. However, before the garnishment is processed, you will be contacted, allowing you to settle your debt.
Retention of Any Tax Refunds
Another implication of not paying child support is that you lose any tax refund you are eligible for. The IRS can intercept your tax refund to offset the child support payment you missed. However, you will receive a notice before garnishing your tax refunds as well.
Suspension of Professional Licence or Driver’s Licence
When a paying parent does not fulfil their child support obligations, it can lead to more serious consequences, like suspension of a driver’s licence. The Department of Licensing will notify the paying parent of which they are expected to respond with full payment or establish a payment plan. Similarly, the missing child support payment can lead to the suspension of all other professions that require state licensure.
Impact on Credit Reports
Being delinquent in child support payments can lead to penalties like lien on property or wage garnishment, which may be reported to the credit bureaus. Not paying child support, the court can hold you in contempt, which can also be reported to the credit bureaus. As a result, it can impact your overall credit rating, which can affect your ability to obtain loans, mortgages, credit cards, insurance, and so on.
Inability to Acquire a Passport
There are cases where, because a paying parent missed out on child support, it gets reported to the federal government. In such cases, such individuals are put on the list of people ineligible to obtain a passport for flight reasons. Such restrictions can impact employment, the ability to travel professionally, and so many other things. And what is worse about this situation is that it takes forever to get off the list even after having paid the arrears.
Jail Time
Getting jail time is a possible consequence of missing child support. Although the number of cases that lead to jail time for missing child support payments is few. Worse, being incarcerated for not fulfilling your responsibility to your child or children is only the punishment or penalty. For the time the paying parent is incarcerated, the paying parent will still have to pay child support.
