If your child’s other parent has fallen behind on child support they owe, or if you owe back support because you cannot make payments, it is important to take a careful look at child support enforcement. In Virginia, the state has a number of strategies to enforce court orders and collect child support, and these actions can have a devastating impact on a non-custodial parent’s life if they fail to stay current.
These consequences highlight how crucial it is to stay current on child support and explore your options if you worry about losing your ability to pay on time.
What happens when a parent fails to pay child support?
The Virginia Department of Social Services goes over the different ways in which the state enforces child support orders. If a parent does not pay child support, they could have their driver’s license suspended, face a property lien or have their tax refund intercepted. In addition, the Division of Child Support Enforcement reports unpaid child support to credit bureaus and also takes non-custodial parents to court, in some instances.
Parents can face other consequences if they do not pay child support, such as losing passport privileges.
How can you address back child support?
If you currently owe child support arrears, you need to review your options. Setting up a payment plan could help, and it is important to do everything in your power to get caught up. Furthermore, you could have the ability to modify your child support order if major financial changes (such as losing your job) prevent you from staying current. In order to avoid enforcement actions, it is crucial to pay child support on time.
