Enforcing a Fort Lauderdale Child Support Order: The Process and How It Helps Your Child

When trying to raise children with a former partner, their failure to make timely support payments is beyond frustrating. Even with a Broward County child support order, they keep falling behind, and the stress may make you consider writing them off. While it’s perfectly natural to feel this way, it’s important to keep in mind what it could end up costing your child.

Florida child support payments are designed to ensure that children have what they need to thrive. Our experienced Fort Lauderdale child support lawyer explains the benefits and how to enforce payment.

How Fort Lauderdale Child Support Payments Benefit Children

Under the Florida Statutes, Broward County parents have a legal obligation to support their children. Getting a formal child support order helps ensure your children get what they need from both parents, but not everyone cooperates.

When payments stop or get delayed, it can cause you significant stress. Over time, it can also have major impacts on your child. Taking the steps to enforce the order helps ensure they continue to have access to:

• A comfortable, stable home, as child support often covers a significant share of household costs.
• Access to healthcare, which includes premiums, copays, prescriptions, and dental care.
• School expenses, from supplies and uniforms to activities and tutoring.
• Reliable childcare that allows you to keep working and keep your family’s finances afloat.
• Everyday basics like groceries, clothing, and transportation that stretch a single income thin.

Florida courts consider whether a paying parent honored their financial obligations when making time-sharing arrangements. Not paying child support in Fort Lauderdale can jeopardize your rights in any parenting plans.

How the Fort Lauderdale Child Support Enforcement Process Works

Waiting for Fort Lauderdale child support payments that never come can leave you feeling frazzled and hopeless. Fortunately, legal options are available. Here’s what you need to know:

• Keep a thorough record of every missed payment, including dates and amounts, as this forms the foundation of your case.
• Start the enforcement process by filing a Motion for Contempt through the Broward County Family Court, or contact the Florida Department of Revenue.
• At a contempt hearing, the non-paying parent has to prove they genuinely cannot pay.
• If the court finds contempt, it can order immediate payment, wage garnishment, license suspension, asset seizure, or, in serious cases, jail time until a payment is made.
• Under Florida Statute Section 61.16, the non-paying parent can also be ordered to pay your legal fees.

Every month that passes is another month you and your children go without the support you need. For trusted legal help, contact our office today.

Request a Consultation With An Experienced Fort Lauderdale Child Support Lawyer

You and your child shouldn’t have to suffer because the other parent won’t make their Fort Lauderdale child support payments. Vanessa L. Prieto Law Offices helps clients throughout Broward County take enforcement efforts and get what they and their children are entitled to.

For trusted, local legal representation, contact our office. Consult our experienced Fort Lauderdale child support lawyer today.

Sources:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.13.html

flcourts.gov/Services/Family-Courts/domestic-relations-court-resources/family-law-forms/Enforcement-12.960-Form/motion-for-civil-contempt-enforcement