Should parents in Phoenix be worried about incarceration for not paying child support?

Phoenix, AZ – Child support payments are a commitment to ensuring that a child is financially secure while they are growing up. The government in every state takes collection and administration of support payments seriously, and there can be consequences for missing out on these payments. When necessary, the government has the authority to do things like garnish wages, intercept tax returns, or even send a person to jail in extreme cases.

Missing support payments can become a serious problem

There are a number of fears about missed support payments. Some of them are legitimate, as research has shown that the current method of courts forcing people to pay even if they cannot can have bad outcomes for families [1]. For example, some states have experimented with work programs as a form of diversion to order jail time. These jurisdictions actually see the parents placed into the work programs make larger payments over time, while a jailed parent is likely to stay behind on child support for years. Other problems with enforcement include parents who take jobs off of the books to try to lower their income and avoid larger payments. These kinds of enforcement issues tend to happen the most in low income communities, meaning that some children are going to have even more difficulty having a stable upbringing if a parent ends up in serious trouble because they cannot make their payments.

How common is jail time for unpaid child support?

As a general rule, a person does not need to worry about going to jail for merely missing a child support payment. However, an arrest can potentially happen if other methods that the government uses to collect the money are unsuccessful. If there is an order from a judge related to any issues that outline child custody or support, any direct violation of this order can possibly be considered contempt of court and the person can end up in jail. Because of the serious nature of these punishments, anyone who is having trouble with their payments due to situations like a job loss or income issues should get in touch with their lawyer immediately. The attorney can help the person get the payments modified as long as they have a legitimate excuse for not paying.

Additional advice about these issues

Schneider and Onofry is a firm that handles family law issues for people in the area of Phoenix, Arizona. People who need advice from a lawyer can contact their firm and schedule a meeting.

USAttorneys.com is a service that helps people find lawyers in their city or state. Anyone who needs a referral to a licensed attorney can call 800-672-3103 to get started.

Firm contact info:

Schneider & Onofry, P.C.

207 W. 2nd St., Yuma AZ 85364

928-257-4887

soarizonalaw.com

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