When a parent is ordered to pay child support by the family law judge and continuously fails to do so, he or she is known as a deadbeat parent.
The term ‘deadbeat’ is used when the parent has the means to pay, but does not. Do not confuse this with a parent who is unable to pay because of job loss or illness; he or she may be eligible for child support modification.
Not all deadbeats are fathers because there are moms who have been ordered to pay child support yet fail to do so. When a parent falls behind in support, there are steps that can be taken, which include:
· Garnishment of their paycheck
· Offsetting Federal and/or State income tax refunds
· Jail time
It is important to know that in many cases, especially with today’s economy, that a parent who is in arrears simply does not have the money to pay the support. If you are owed back child support payments, contact an experienced Orange County Family Law attorney who can help you seek a solution to your complex family problems.
