Falling behind on child support can result in many different challenges, from anxiety to the threat of being taken into custody. However, there are other ways in which becoming delinquent on child support payments can disrupt a parent’s life. For example, a non-custodial parent who cannot pay their child support for one reason or another may be unable to move forward with an overseas trip that they have been planning. Or, they may suffer tax consequences, such as having a portion of their tax refund garnished or their entire refund taken away.
If you fall behind on child support, your ability to travel could be adversely affected by an inability to obtain a passport. If you apply for a passport in the U.S., you will be ineligible to receive a passport if you owe enough in unpaid child support. Having your tax refund taken away can also be very difficult and it may affect your life in other ways. For example, if you were planning to use your tax refund to take care of other debts, you may be unable to do so, leading to additional financial difficulties.
Our law office understands how difficult back child support can be for parents on both sides. Custodial parents who do not receive child support may struggle as well, and it is extremely important for parents who owe child support to stay current. If you are facing challenges, you may be able to stay caught up on child support by modifying your child support order.