When you decide to have children, you are then responsible for their well-being, including in a divorce situation. After all, you are their parent and will be for the rest of your and their life. For the most part, parents want to support their children and have a great relationship with them. That being said, there are instances where parents either cannot make child support payments, or they just refuse to do so. In either case, there are severe repercussions in the state of Arizona for not paying child support.
Dorris Law Group offers family law and divorce representation in the state of Arizona. Whether you are looking for a legal separation or a divorce, or you need assistance with alimony or child support matters, we can help. Our team has years of experience helping others in divorce matters. Our compassionate Tucson divorce attorneys can answer all of your questions. Below, we’ll take a look at a few of the consequences of not paying child support in Arizona. Contact our family law firm to get started today!
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT PAYING CHILD SUPPORT IN ARIZONA
Paying child support is part of the legal agreement of divorce. Therefore, when you don’t pay child support, you are violating a court order, which comes with many legal consequences. It is considered a crime in the state of Arizona, and if not amended or rectified, you could end up charged with a Class VI felony that comes with a 1.5 year prison sentence. The amount you owe in child support never goes away, and it accrues interest until you pay it.
The DCSS
The Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) has the authority in Arizona to enforce payment of child support. You will be notified in advance of any action that might be taken against you. However, the legal means to collect on past-due child support payments are:
- Garnishments of your wages
- Seizure of personal property
- Suspension of any professional licensing, including your driver’s license
- Placing a lien on your property
- Charging you with contempt of court, which could result in fines and jail time
- Reporting you to credit card agencies, which shows up as a debt on your credit report
- And more
What if You Can’t Pay?
People can fall on hard times, which is why the courts allow for a modification of child support payments. Obviously, you can’t pay what you don’t have and that doesn’t make you a bad parent; it’s just a fact of your current circumstances. If this is the case, it’s always best to get a modification to your child support so you can avoid any legal trouble from non-payment. Dorris Law Group can help you file a modification to child support agreement.
PARTNER WITH DORRIS LAW GROUP IN TUCSON TODAY
Dorris Law Group in Tucson offers legal representation for child support matters. Whether you are dealing with a parent who is not paying, or you need to modify your child support agreement, we can help. Our family law firm has years of experience. Contact us for a free consultation today!
