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A family law lawyer Rockville MD from the Law Office of Daniel J. Wright has alerted us to the fact that if the court has ordered you to pay child support, you are expected to pay in full and on time. Otherwise, you could suffer harsh consequences. The legal system takes it seriously when parents do not pay their child support and may take extreme measures to collect. Here are seven ways you could be forced to pay child support, especially without the legal assistance of a family law lawyer:
1. Wage Garnishment
One of the most common ways the court collects unpaid child support is through wage garnishment. If you are currently employed and have not been making your child support payments, the court could take a large chunk out of every paycheck. The court does not even have to issue a judgment to collect this debt. Wage garnishment could have a severe impact on your finances. You may have trouble paying your rent, utilities, and other expenses.
2. Driver’s License Suspension
The court can also choose to suspend your driver’s license for not paying child support. As you can imagine, this will make it difficult to get to work and other important places. You will have to rely on family and friends to give you rides. This measure is used to prevent you from running and motivate you to show up to court.
3. Frozen Bank Accounts
Your checkings and savings accounts can also be frozen if you haven’t been making your child support payments. You won’t be able to access any of your money, making it extremely difficult to pay your rent and other bills.
4. No Tax Refunds
Many people look forward to getting their tax refund every year. They may use that money to pay off debt or put it towards a family vacation. However, if you are behind on your child support payments, it’s unlikely that you will be getting a tax refund. The court will use the refund toward your unpaid child support debt.
5. Lien Against Property
If you own a house or other property, a lien can be placed against it if you fail to pay child support. You won’t be able to borrow against your property anymore, which could severely hurt your financial situation.
6. Ruined Credit
If you accumulate too much child support debt, it will be reported to credit bureaus and your credit rating will take a major hit. With a lower credit score, you may have difficulty renting an apartment, getting approved for loans, and even getting charged higher insurance premiums.
7. Jail Time
In the worst-case scenario, not paying child support can result in time behind bars. If the court determines that you have willfully not paid child support, they may sentence you to time in jail. Be sure to immediately contact a family law lawyer in order to protect your rights and sort out your child support case.
