Parents have a responsibility to provide for their children, regardless of if they are married or not. Even if a couple divorces, they still need to fulfill their duties to their kids. The court makes provisions for the custodial parent to receive child support payments in order to help supplement the costs of raising a child, if they have need for it. The state considers both parent’s income and ability to pay for their child, as well as what the child needs.
While generally sensitive, matters of child support can become highly fraught when one parent refuses to pay the money they owe their children. Usually, a couple is allowed to come to an agreement over how much a parent should pay. However, if they are unable to do so, the court can intervene.
Factors used to calculate child support include:
- The child’s needs
- The needs of the custodial parent
- The standard of living the child is accustomed to
- The paying parent’s ability to pay
When a parent does not pay the necessary installments of child support, he or she violates one of their inherent duties. If you have an ex that does not pay the support they are required, you may be able to enforce the issue.
Intervention from the OIG
In some cases, the U.S. Office of the Inspector General (OIG) can intervene. Their higher authority can help in cases where the parent does not fulfill their duties.
In order to get OIG participation, the paying parent:
- Refused to pay child support for more than one year.
- Owes more than $5000.
- Moved to another country or state to avoid making payments.
Like many other things, there are both pros and cons to enforcing child support. At The Harris Law Firm, we believe that you should make educated decisions on matters that affect your kids. That is why we list some of the top reasons and concerns about child support enforcement.
The advantages of forcing child support payments include:
- Financial stability for you and your child – Raising kids can be expensive. From educational expenses to medical bills, it is important that they be provided for. Child support ensures that you and your kids receive the money you deserve for a healthy life.
- Parents have an obligation to support their child – It is an inherent duty that a parent provide for his or her offspring. One parent should not be allowed to shirk their obligations to their child.
- It is the law – Child support is a parent’s duty, made concrete by the law.
The disadvantages of enforcing child support payments are:
- Negatively affect the relationship between parents – If you and your ex have a rocky relationship, enforcing child support will potentially make it worse. Many people worry about how that will affect their children.
- You may need to go to court – If a parent refuses to pay, you may need to seek legal help. This may entail the need to go to trial. Not only can this add stress, but it can be costly too.
- It can be expensive – In contentious cases, you may need to hire an attorney, who costs money.
At The Harris Law Firm, we want you and your child to be well provided for. If your ex does not fulfill their child support requirements, you may need legal counsel. Contact our Colorado child support attorneys today to learn your rights.