Child support is a critical aspect of divorce and separation cases involving children. It is an essential component that ensures the financial well-being of the child. Texas law mandates that noncustodial parents pay child support to the custodial parent or the state, depending on the circumstances. When noncustodial parents fail to pay child support, they can face significant legal penalties. In this blog post, we will discuss the penalties for noncustodial parents who do not pay child support in Texas.

Penalties for Nonpayment of Child Support:

Here are the most common penalties for noncustodial parents who do not pay child support in Texas:

  1. Wage Garnishment: If a noncustodial parent fails to pay child support, their employer may be ordered to garnish their wages. This means that a certain percentage of their income will be withheld to pay the child support arrears. The garnishment can continue until the parent is current on their child support payments.
  2. Driver’s License Suspension: Noncustodial parents who are delinquent on their child support payments can have their driver’s license suspended. This can affect their ability to work, attend school, and take care of their personal needs.
  3. Contempt of Court: If a noncustodial parent does not pay child support, the court can hold them in contempt. This means that the parent has willfully disobeyed the court’s order to pay child support. The court can impose a fine, require the parent to pay the child support arrears, and even order them to serve time in jail.
  4. Property Seizure: If a noncustodial parent fails to pay child support, their property, such as a car or a house, can be seized to satisfy the child support arrears.
  5. Passport Denial: The federal government can deny a noncustodial parent’s passport or revoke an existing passport if they owe more than $2,500 in child support arrears.
  6. Professional License Suspension: Noncustodial parents who do not pay child support can have their professional licenses, such as a driver’s license or a medical license, suspended or revoked until they pay their child support arrears.

Contact the Attorney General

If you get behind on your child support it is important for you to be proactive. Ignoring the situation will just make it worse.

Contact the Attorney General to see if they can offer you assistance with temporarily stopping your child support or lowering it. This will  help prevent you from experiencing the severe penalties listed above.

If the Attorney General is unable to assist you and you can afford to hire an attorney contact The Blacknall Firm for representation.