The family law process provides a variety of valuable child support resources to parents and families in a variety of different types of situations. Six people, including five men and one woman, were recently arrested in Northern California for failure to pay child support. A warrant sweep was conducted for failure to appear in court for failure to pay child support. The six individuals were arrested on civil contempt charges for their failure to pay court-ordered child support. Individuals in California that have failed to pay child support may be wanted on a civil arrest warrant. Parents facing that situation should contact the Department of Child Support Services.
It is important to not ignore child support obligations even if the parent is having difficulty meeting these obligations because options may be available to them. Penalties for failure to pay child support can include jail time in serious circumstances, as well as wage garnishment, interception of tax returns, denial of a driver’s license, suspension of an occupational or business license, or denial of a passport.
Child support enforcement measures should not be taken lightly, which is why it is important for parents struggling to pay child support to understand that options may be available to help them through the family law legal process. Child support modifications may be possible based on significant changes in circumstances of a parent or child. It is necessary, however, to make a request for a child support modification from the family law court and important not to ignore child support obligations in the meantime.
The family law legal process provides resources to help recipient parents enforce child support obligations but can also offer help to both the recipient and paying parents seeking a child support modification. It is helpful when parents are familiar with the resources available to them through the family law legal process, how those resources may help them, and how to utilize those resources when needed.
Source: Record Searchlight, “Six arrested in Tehama child-support cases,” Nov. 10, 2016
