An Arizona woman recently received $93,639 in late child support payments owed to her. With the large payment, she is now in a better position to financially provide for her children. The money will not take away those hard days of struggling, but it will help with her and her children's future.
The Arizona woman was not in a unique situation. According to the United States Census Bureau, non-custodial fathers collectively failed to pay over $11 billion in child support payments in 2007, the most recent year data is available.
Why Non-Custodial Parents Fall Behind
There are a variety of reasons why non-custodial parents fall behind on child support payments, including job loss, medical problems and even bankruptcy. However, some simply choose not to pay and will go to any length to hide their money, and occasionally even themselves.
Custodial Parents Have Options
When there are child support payments in arrears, meaning scheduled payments are unpaid, a custodial parent does have options. This includes obtaining a judgment against the non-custodial parent, which adds fees and interest to the regularly scheduled payments.
Custodial parents can also ask for liens to be placed against the delinquent parent's bank accounts or garnish his or her wages. If this fails, the court can do other things such as suspend the non-custodial parent's driver's or business licenses, to name only a few.
It would be nice to think that everyone who is owed back child support would eventually receive it. Unfortunately, many will not unless they take action. An experienced family law attorney can help obtain the child support you need to provide for your child.
