It seems clear and basic enough, but there are still parents who fail to understand. The responsibility towards the child remains even after divorce. Thus, payment of child support and miscellaneous expenses is still necessary.
A parent may have good reason to refuse or neglect to provide child support, even if the court mandates it. The primary custodian is already spending on the everyday expenses of the child.
Here are some options if a co-parent refuses to pay the necessary child support or the miscellaneous expenses:
Enforcing the Child Support Order
There are instances when the co-parents will agree informally to a certain amount. It should include the miscellaneous expenses of the child when it is computed. However, this will not be enforced by a state agency. Thus, it is imperative to obtain a child support order from the court. With this order, child support is now a legal order. If a co-parent fails to comply, he or she can be charged with contempt of court. It constitutes disobedience of an official court order.
The custodial parent should report the delinquent co-parent to the court, and petition the judge to take action. The judge has some options:
Withholding the delinquent parent’s income
Many of the child support orders have provisions stating that the employer can deduct the child support amount from his employee’s income. There are ex-couples who choose not to enforce the withholding provision until there is a time that the ex-parent fails to comply.
However, even without this provision, the parent is still responsible for making adequate and timely payments.
Office of the Attorney General
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is tasked with ensuring that child support is paid amply and on time. This is because the state would not want to have the child on welfare or public assistance. Thus, the OAG will file lawsuits against the parents who fail to comply with the child support order.
Duration of Child Support
It should be clarified that child support is the priority of the court, over alimony and other payments. Child support will last until the children reach eighteen years of age. However, if the child has a handicap or condition, whether physical or mental, then the court will determine the length of the support. Child support is implemented depending on the needs of the child.
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