Parents have a legal responsibility to financially support their children. Both custodial and noncustodial parents must contribute to a child’s life by paying child support. When one parent refuses to meet their child support obligations, the family can experience serious financial ramifications, which can impact the other parent’s ability to meet their child’s needs.
If your child’s other parent has not met their support obligations, consult a child support attorney. A dedicated Upper Marlboro child support enforcement lawyer can help you get the child support your family is owed.
Negotiating With a Parent Not Paying Child Support
Before involving the court, you may attempt the negotiate directly with the co-parent. However, trying to sit down and discuss sensitive matters can be difficult for former spouses or partners. In some cases, one parent might try to withhold their child support obligations just to retaliate against the other parent.
Working with a seasoned attorney from Upper Marlboro who has experience with the enforcement of child support obligations is critical. A skilled lawyer can address the matter practically and without personal bias. They can work with the other parent or their attorney and try to negotiate a voluntary repayment plan.
Pursuing Legal Action To Enforce Child Support Payments
If the other parent is unwilling to cooperate and agree upon a plan, you will need to seek legal action.
Wage Assignment
If the delinquent parent is financially stable and has a job, a common method to pursue child support payments is by garnishing a portion of their wages. A dedicated local lawyer can help you file the appropriate paperwork to apply to the court for a wage assignment. The delinquent parent will receive notice and can try to argue against it. If the wage assignment is successful, the non-paying parent’s employer will deduct the child support payment directly from their paycheck and send it to you, the custodial parent.
Writ of Execution
A skilled local lawyer can help you pursue a writ of execution to enforce the child support order. If successful, the court can seize certain assets held by the non-paying parent.
Civil Contempt of Court
A parent who has financial means but knowingly fails to meet their child support obligations in defiance of a court order can face contempt of court charges. A lawyer can help you file the appropriate paperwork and represent you in court. The non-paying parent could face time in jail until they comply with the court’s order.
Our knowledgeable Upper Marlboro attorneys can help you determine the best legal avenue through which to enforce the other parent’s child support obligations.
Call an Upper Marlboro Child Support Enforcement Attorney
Failing to receive child support from your child’s other parent can drastically affect your child’s life. You might not be able to pay for their schooling, medical care, food, and other needs. A caring Upper Marlboro child support enforcement lawyer does not want your family to suffer.
Call Carmiece Graves Law, with offices in Upper Marlboro and Largo, to arrange an initial consultation, and our attorneys can discuss a plan of action to help you get the financial support your family needs.