Child Support Neglect - What Is a Deadbeat Parent?

If you're in this situation, I'm sure you've come to realize there's nothing worse than a deadbeat parent. This is the person who believes they are entitled to neglect their children once a divorce has taken place. Why a parent thinks it's okay to support them before the divorce and not afterwards is beyond me. It seems as if they think they're "off the hook" somehow. But nothing could be further from the truth. At this vulnerable time in a child's life, the little ones need to know they're still loved and cared for enough by the departing parent as they were when they lived under the same roof. According to our court system, a deadbeat parent is one who has been ordered by the court to pay child support but fails to do so. But sometimes there are extenuating circumstances such as when a job loss or illness occurs to the parent, and they fall behind on their payments. A deadbeat parent is one who CAN pay, but doesn't. There are plenty of legal consequences for the deadbeat parent. These are methods used by the court system to make sure they pay what they owe in child support payments. Here are a few: 1. Garnish their pay. This simply means, "to take a debtor's wages on legal orders". 2. Suspension of driver's license. 3. Refuse to allow them to get a legal passport. No way do you want the parent to leave the country for then it will only be that much more difficult to make them pay. 4. Intercept unemployment compensation. If the parent has filed for unemployment compensation, the courts can file a claim to have child support automatically withdrawn. 5. Tap their federal and/or state income tax refunds. 6. Go as far as to enforce jail time. This consequence usually has the effect of showing the deadbeat parent that you mean business. But just what should you do when they are paying but suddenly the checks stop? First of all, you should immediately contact your local child support enforcement office. This information can be found either online or in your phone directory. Once you've contacted them, explain you've called to report the payments have stopped. Be prepared to give any explanation you know about which may be the reasons they've quit paying as well as the offending parent's last physical location. Even though this is an extremely difficult and trying time for everyone involved, be patient. Unexpected circumstances do arise which could make it difficult for the parent not to be able to pay. It just may be that they want to continue to pay, but can't. Therefore, it may be necessary for some adjustments to be made on the part of both parties. In conclusion, enforcing child support payments may be challenging, but they are worth it to ensure the support for your children is forthcoming from the person responsible. It's not always easy to do, but it's the right thing to do.