What happens if my ex stops paying for child support?
Court-ordered child support is a legal obligation, and should not be ignored for any reason. If your spouse has stopped paying child support payments, then you have the right to take action and defend your child’s rights. Child support payments are a lifeline for many people. They provide financial support for your child’s daily living expenses, including their food, clothing, education, and other necessities. If your ex-partner stops paying child support, then you should seek legal counsel from an experienced family law attorney.
Enforcing child support orders can be a challenge. However, it is essential that you do not take matters into your own hands by refusing visitation. The court will not look favorably on you if you do this. Instead, you need professional help. At Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers, our attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience in family law. Our founder, Mathew Skillern, has an AVVO rating of 10.0, the highest possible rating based on years in service, awards, honors, and professional associations. We fight tirelessly to protect the rights and best interests of our clients, and to secure a bright future for you and your children.
Speak to an experienced attorney in Texas today at (832) 688-6606
What Happens if My Ex Stops Paying For Child Support? faqs
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In the United States, it is common for people to struggle with child support payments. In fact, in 2011, the amount of unpaid child support across the United States equated to $14.3 billion dollars.
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If you are struggling to cope while you await child support payments, then you will need to find a way to manage your money. This can be an enormous struggle, but your options may include seeking more work, asking a family member for help, and cutting down on expenses.
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Regardless of whether you take your ex-spouse to a court or not, an attorney is still invaluable. They can assess your options and inform you about what your rights and responsibilities are. They will estimate what going to court will cost you, and how long it would take for you to receive what you are owed.
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In Texas, parents are also required to provide medical support, as well as dental support if your divorce case began after September 1st, 2018. The parent who pays child support should also provide medical and dental coverage if it is available at a reasonable cost. (Reasonable cost is no more than 9% of the payer’s annual income for medical insurance, and for dental support, it is 1.5%).
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If your ex-spouse no longer lives in Texas, then the CSD can use federal law to seek help from other states’ child support enforcement agencies to help you collect child support from them.
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If your ex-spouse was ordered to pay child support but refuses, then the court will find ways to hold them accountable. However, visitation and child support are separate issues and will not affect each other.
What is Child Support and What is it Designed to Cover in Texas?
Child support is paid by one parent to the other to help contribute to the cost of the upbringing of the child. Usually, the non-custodial parent pays child support, unless the other parent earns significantly more. While Texas law does not specify what should be covered by child support, it should cover the child’s basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, education, and medical and dental care. You may also receive a temporary support order which will be in place while the divorce is still pending. Although this is not a permanent arrangement, it still places legal obligations on parents.
what to do about a missing child support payment
A court order for child support payments is legally binding. However, it is important to tread carefully to avoid worsening the situation. If you go straight in with legal action, it could make your relationship with your ex even more difficult, which can also negatively affect your children. Therefore, the first step should be to speak to your ex-spouse. For some people, this might be difficult, and if speaking to them puts you in any danger, or if they refuse to speak to you, then skip this step. In these situations, local child support services might be able to help enforce child support orders.
If you can find out why they have missed the payment, and if it is valid. If, for example, they have lost their job or crashed their car, see if you can come to an arrangement while they get back on their feet where they pay you a little less and make up for it when they can. On the other hand, if they have no good reason not to pay you and are still refusing to cooperate, then it is time to look at your legal options. An experienced child support attorney will be able to provide you with the legal help you need to recover past-due child support payments. They will view your options and ensure you have the information you need to make an informed decision about your next steps.
Contact Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers
When you’re suffering from missed child support payments, it can be incredibly difficult. You want to be able to support your children, and not being able to provide them with everything that they need is never a position you should be put in. When you seek help from Skillern Firm Divorce & Child Custody Lawyers we will assess your options and advise you on your next steps. We will strive to protect your relationship with your ex-spouse, but if necessary, we are ready to take them to court to secure what they owe you. We have more than 50 years of combined experience and offer a personalized approach to the attorney-client relationship. We will handle even the most complex cases with the care and dedication they deserve.
