What Happens When You Don't Pay Child Support?

Whether you or your spouse has the responsibility of paying child support is beside the point. Child support payments are vital to caring for a child, and the parent responsible for paying must meet that obligation. Failure to make payments without formal communication between the spouse and attorneys can result in severe penalties. If you’re searching for more information regarding what happens when you don't pay child support, our guide below will give you an idea of the severity of missing payments.

Fines and penalties will add up

Missing or disobeying the order to pay child support can lead to several fines that can cost you thousands more than you originally owed. There are also penalties that the state can put in place, such as liens on property or denying tax refunds. Additionally, the state could prohibit an individual from crossing state lines or traveling out of the country if they intend to skip payments.

The state reserves the right to garnish wages and suspend your driver’s license

If someone fails to pay child support without a reasonable cause or a formally reported hardship, the state can begin to garnish their wages. Garnished wages can include but are not limited to net salary, unemployment, and social security. Furthermore, the state can retract some privileges, including suspending one’s driver’s license and passport.