What Happens When a Parent Refuses to Pay Child Support in Fort Lauderdale?

Getting a child support order in Fort Lauderdale protects the financial stability of children and ensures they have what they need in cases where parents are single or divorced. Once a court order is in place, the other parent must pay. What happens if they don’t?

Fortunately, Florida takes a firm stand on child support and can take enforcement actions to protect children and hold parents accountable. Our experienced Fort Lauderdale child support lawyer explains the legal requirements for payment and your legal options for getting the money you and your child are owed.

Legal Requirements for Child Support Payments in Fort Lauderdale

As a parent, providing financial support to your children is a legal obligation, not an option. When it comes to ordering child support in Fort Lauderdale in cases of divorced or single parents, here’s how Section 61.13 of the Florida Statutes applies:

• Each of the parents must contribute to the child’s financial support.
• Child support calculations factor in their individual income, parenting time, and child-related expenses.
• If one of the parents is out of work or underemployed, the court may impute an amount based on their prior education, experience, and work history.
• Past-due arrears from partial or late payments continue to accrue and accumulate interest until paid in full.
• Failure to pay child support can result in severe legal penalties.

Once the Broward County Family Court puts a child support order in place, parents are legally required to pay in full and on time. A parent cannot stop paying or reduce payments without requesting a child support modification through the court.

Fort Lauderdale Child Support Enforcement Efforts: How To Get The Money You Are Owed

Is the other parent habitually late in making payments or falls behind in paying child support in Fort Lauderdale? You have the right to take them to court. They can face severe enforcement efforts through the Florida Department of Revenue as a result. These include:

• Wage garnishment or seizure of bank accounts;
• Suspension of driver’s licenses and professional licenses;
• Seizure of tax refunds, lottery winnings, and certain government benefits;
• Liens on their property or other assets, preventing them from selling until they pay past due child support in full.

Failure to pay child support in Florida can also result in civil court actions. Judges do not take kindly to this situation and could charge the non-paying parent with contempt of court, resulting in fines and potential jail time.

To Find Out More About Enforcement Efforts, Consult Our Experienced Fort Lauderdale Child Support Lawyer

Dealing with unpaid child support is frustrating and stressful. Vanessa L. Prieto Law Offices takes the legal steps needed to get you and your child the money you are owed.

We help parents throughout Broward County get child support orders and ensure the appropriate amount gets paid. To protect your rights and your child’s financial security, call or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer today.

Sources:

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

floridarevenue.com/childsupport/Pages/default.aspx