A person who does not make child support payments in accordance with the court order will still be held responsible for fulfilling their support responsibilities. In some cases, back child support payments may also include interest charges and other fees added on top of the money owed.
States typically have jurisdiction over handling back child support, but in some severe cases (such as the obligor falling multiple years behind in payments), the federal government can also become involved. In any circumstance, parents are always legally responsible for making their child support payments in full, even if the child has already reached adulthood.
What happens if an obligor does not pay back child support?
If the person who owes child support shirks his or her duty in paying back support, that individual could face serious consequences. Some of the penalties imposed by the state or federal government could include:
- License suspension: The government can suspend the obligor’s driver’s, professional, hunting or fishing license.
- Garnished wages: The government can withdraw money directly from a person’s wages to put toward back child support debts.
- Passport denial: If a person owes more than $2,500 in back child support, he or she may be ineligible to use or apply for a passport.
- Seizure: The government may seize some property in some cases to liquidate and then use the resulting money to pay for the debt. This property could include a tax refund.
- Jail time: A person who continues to refuse to pay back child support after the above actions have been take could face jail time.
For further guidance on back child support and how to enforce it, consult a skilled Minnesota family law attorney with Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.
