When you are enforcing child support, there are many things that you should consider, such as holding the other parent’s tax returns for six months, and levying interest on overdue amounts. There are also some instances when you should file a civil contempt action against the other parent if they are not paying their child support.
A parent who has failed to pay child support will likely feel the wrath of the law. Depending on the severity of the offense, the penalties can range from a small fine to jail time. If you are struggling to meet your support obligations, you should seek legal advice.
The court may also find you in contempt of court. This is not to be confused with a legal reprimand, which is not a felony. In some states, a non-paying parent can be put on probation.
There are many laws and regulations concerning the payment of child support. Your local state attorney’s office can help you with the process. Some states, like Florida, have specific statutes to enforce court orders. Contact a skilled Miami child support attorney to help you.
You may be able to get a lien placed on your property. Or, your employer may withhold the funds you owe. Other options include filing a lien on your bank account or retirement plan.
When a parent is ordered to pay child support, they can be held in civil contempt if they fail to comply. In some cases, this can result in jail time for the noncustodial parent. However, these proceedings can also be very costly and lead to additional debt for the state child support program.
The judge determines whether a noncustodial parent is in contempt. This is based on whether the parent failed to comply with the order, as well as the circumstances surrounding the case.
When a parent is found to be in contempt, the court can impose jail time, fines, or community supervision. This is a traumatic process that can be expensive, and it can reduce cooperation with the child support program.
It’s important for parents to understand what happens in child support cases. They should feel respected and be treated with dignity. Also, a parent who violates their parenting plan should have a chance to rectify their behavior before going to court.
If your tax refund is being held by a state agency in order to enforce child support, you may not get the full amount of the tax refund. This is because many states have a policy of holding a portion of a tax refund for up to six months.
The IRS has a similar policy. It holds on to the non-custodial parent’s tax refund for up to six months in order to enforce past-due child support payments.
You may be wondering what the Department of Treasury has to say about this. While the federal government has no official policy governing this type of collection, they do encourage states to keep collections from joint tax returns for at least six months.
In addition, the IRS is investigating fraudulent tax refunds. This is due to an increase in the number of fraudulent tax filings in recent years.
There are two main reasons to have your joint tax return offset. First, the tax refund will be used to pay back past-due child support. Second, the non-custodial spouse might be entitled to a portion of the tax refund because of his or her income.
If you have an unpaid child support balance, the state may impose interest on your debt. However, you may be able to avoid paying interest if you can get a court to waive your debt.
Some states have no interest rate on unpaid child support payments. Others charge a moderate interest rate of 4 to 6 percent. In some cases, the non-custodial parent can waive his or her right to pay interest by agreeing to make payments that are equal to the child support order.
