How to Collect Delinquent Child Support After 18?
How to Collect Delinquent Child Support After 18?
If your child is approaching the age of 18, or has just turned 18, and their other parent owes you child support, you might be wondering if you can still collect. At The Law Office of Daniel J. Wright we have helped many responsible parents collect delinquent child support payments from noncustodial parents. A child support lawyer in Rockville, MD from our firm may be able to assist you as well. Talk to one of our experienced attorneys during a free consult which you can arrange by calling our office today.
The Repercussions of Not Paying Child Support
Having a child is a great responsibility and with that comes the necessity of paying for the child’s living costs and other necessary expenses. The courts recognize this and they support government agencies’ efforts to enforce court-ordered child support terms. Noncustodial parents must comply with their legal and moral obligations to pay child support. A Rockville, MD child support lawyer from The Law Office of Daniel J. Wright can help you pursue justice against the other parent if they owe you child support. Your lawyer can also provide you with the information you need to know about the Federal Child Support Enforcement Program that is intended to assist custodial parents who seek overdue child support payments from the noncustodial parent.
After the Child Turns 18
A child gains adult status after they turn a certain number of years of age. Your Rockville, MD child support lawyer in Rockville, MD from The Law Office of Daniel J. Wright can confirm the age of adult status in the [state], whether that’s 18, 19, or 21. Once your son or daughter is considered an adult, their other parent is no longer required to pay you child support. However, if they owe you child support from before your child gained adult status, they are still required to pay you those overdue payments.
Back Child Support Payments
As a child support lawyer from The Law Office of Daniel J. Wright can tell you, child support laws vary from state to state. This includes the age at which they determine someone is an adult. Regardless of when the child gains adult status, the parent who is in arrears for child support payments must pay them to the parent who was or is the custodial parent. This is true even if the debtor does not have the money to make those payments. With the help of a child support lawyer in Rockville, MD from our firm, we can help you pursue legal methods to obtain back payments. One possibility is the garnishment of wages which can be accomplished with a court order.
The Statute of Limitations
Depending on when the child gained adult status, there is a limited time in which you have to pursue legal action against the delinquent parent. After that time, the court will not consider your petition. Talk to a child support lawyer from The Law Office of Daniel J. Wright who can advise you as to how much time you have to take action.
A Rockville, MD Child Support Lawyer Who Cares
If your child’s other parent is not meeting their support obligations, we may be able to help you. The Law Office of Daniel J. Wright is dedicated to protecting the rights of children and their custodial parents. Call us today for a free consultation with a child support lawyer in Rockville, MD who can make a difference.
