If you already owe back child support, worry about falling behind or expect to owe child support at some point in the future, it is important to review a number of issues. Aside from understanding how the court calculates child support awards and the possibility of modifying a child support order due to major financial changes, you should go over the penalties that come with failing to pay support on time.
Missing child support payments could disrupt many different aspects of your life, such as your finances, career, ability to travel and reputation.
License suspension and other child support penalties
According to California Child Support Services, you might face numerous penalties if you do not pay child support on time. For example, the state could suspend your driver’s license, you might lose the ability to receive a U.S. passport and the state could place a levy on your bank account.
Outside of court, other hardships could arise due to missing child support payments. You could become overwhelmed by anxiety and suffer serious damage to your reputation. Paying arrears could result in significant financial strain, especially if you have missed payments for a considerable period of time.
Handling child support challenges
If you owe back support or fear that you cannot stay caught up, go over your options. Changing your spending habits, saving money and carefully setting up a payment plan could help. If you have lost your job or your financial situation has changed for another reason, modifying your child support order might allow you to reduce the amount you owe.
