Important Things to Know About Child Support Arrears in Florida
All parents in Florida are required to financially support their children, even if the relationship between the parents does not last. If you have separated from your child’s other parent, you may be ordered to pay child support. This obligation exists regardless of how the other parent behaves, such as if they deny visitation. It is important to keep current with child support payments so you do not face additional penalties and to avoid the interest that can accrue.
If you are behind on child support payments, there are important things to know. Below, our Orlando child support lawyer explains what these are.
What Happens if You Do Not Pay Child Support?
Child support payments are paid to the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) and the agency then distributes them to the recipient parent. If you fail to pay child support, the DOR will use a number of different methods to collect the payments. These include:
- Wage garnishment: A wage garnishment is a court order requiring your employer to deduct a certain amount of money off of your paycheck. The wage garnishment will stop once your child support arrears are paid in full.
- Driver’s license suspension: Your driver’s license may be suspended until you have repaid all arrears or have arranged a payment plan.
- Property liens: The court can place a lien on certain types of property, such as your home or vehicle
- Withholding tax refunds: The government may withhold your state or federal tax refund to help cover child support arrears.
- Freezing your bank account: The court may also issue an order to freeze your bank account and seize the funds to repay arrears.
- Jail sentence: Only used in extreme cases, child support arrears can result in contempt of court charges, which could result in jail time.
How to Reduce Child Support Arrears
Child support arrears will not just go away. In fact, not even bankruptcy can eliminate the debt. Fortunately, there are options you can look into if you have child support arrears:
- Request a repayment plan: The DOR may be willing to enter into a repayment plan that allows you to pay the arrears over time. This can help you avoid the harsh consequences above.
- Child support modification: If you cannot pay child support due to a substantial change in circumstances, you may be able to request a child support modification. You must petition the court for this and show why the change is necessary.
- Settlement: Sometimes, recipient parents are willing to settle the arrears for a lower amount. The court must approve any child support settlement agreement.
Our Child Support Layer in Orlando Can Help with Arrears
If you have child support arrears, it is important to work with an Orlando child support lawyer who can help you avoid the harsh consequences. At Anderson & Ferrin, P.A., our experienced attorney can advise you of your options and help you navigate the process so you are protected from the negative outcomes. Call us now at 407-412-7041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help.
Source:
flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2012/61.30
