Child support orders are legally binding. In fact, parents who fail to meet their financial obligations to their children by adhering to child support orders can face serious legal consequences. If your ex is not making child support payments to you as required by law, an experienced San Antonio child support attorney at Cook Law Firm is well prepared to help.
Legal Consequences for Nonpayment
The court has many tools to enforce child support obligations.
Garnished Wages
Child support is generally automatically garnished in Texas cases. Sometimes, however, alternative arrangements are made. When this is the case and the paying parent is not fulfilling their financial obligation, the court can order the employer to withhold child support payments from the parent’s wages.
The Revocation of Licenses Issued by the State
Texas courts can also revoke a nonpaying parent’s state-issued licenses, which include all the following:
- Driver’s license
- Concealed weapon license
- Business license
Interception of Tax Refunds
The State of Texas can intercept any income from a paying parent that is generated by the state or federal government. This includes both state and federal tax refunds as well as any lottery winnings.
Additional Consequences
The State of Texas taxes the matter of child support very seriously, and as a result, all the following can apply:
- A negatively affected credit score
- Ineligibility for a passport
- Liens placed on property, bank accounts, vehicles, and retirement accounts
- Inclusion on the state’s website that lists parents with child support delinquencies
Jail Time
Texas courts can also slap parents who refuse to pay child support with jail time. These sentences are attached to contempt of court judgements and can result in 6 to 12 months in jail.
Consequences this serious are generally reserved for parents who fail to pay child support, not for those who cannot. When a parent cannot meet their child support obligation, for example, due to a significant change in circumstances, addressing the matter with the court sooner rather than later is always advisable.
Child Support and Parenting Time Are Not Interchangeable
Both child support and parenting time are intended to serve the best interests of the children involved. When one parent denies visitation in response to late child support, they ensure that their children are hurt in two separate ways. If your ex is not making the child support payments they are required to by law, a trusted child support lawyer is standing by to help.
You Need an Experienced San Antonio Child Support Lawyer in Your Corner
The seasoned San Antonio child support attorneys at Cook Law Firm will leave no stone unturned in our fierce advocacy for the child support payments to which you and your children are entitled. Your case is essential, so please don’t put off reaching out for more information by contacting or calling us at 210-740-0281 today.