In a recent blog post, we looked into some of the consequences of unpaid child support as well as some ways that non-custodial parents who find themselves in this position can get caught up on their payments.
There are a variety of reasons why some people cannot pay child support, some of which may be out of their control (job loss, etc.). However, they should do all they can to stay caught up, even during these hardships, and they may have different options such as child support modification. Unfortunately, some non-custodial parents do not prioritize staying current on the child support they owe and some simply refuse to pay what they owe.
Aside from financial challenges, some parents refuse to pay child support because they are bitter about a divorce or believe that they are being asked to pay too much. Moreover, some may be irresponsible and find difficulty in satisfying their financial obligations. As a custodial parent, this can make your life quite hard on a day-to-day basis. For example, you could be struggling to feed your child or provide them with clothes and the supplies they need for school.
For parents who have already been through a difficult divorce, this can be a particularly devastating issue. You may be unable to communicate with your child’s other parent and feel helpless, but you could have other options on the table and should not hesitate to stand up for your rights. The family law part of our site covers other topics related to child support.