Child support is crucial in ensuring the well-being and stability of children whose parents live separately. However, despite a court order, some co-parents are inconsistent in fulfilling their support payments. This issue creates financial strain and emotional stress for the custodial parent and the children involved.
If you are in a similar situation, there are steps you can take to address and overcome the issue effectively.
What can you do?
If you are receiving inconsistent child support payments, applying the following initial measures help ensure you are protecting your interests and your child’s rights:
- Review the court order: Check the details of the child support order to ensure you understand the payment schedule and amounts.
- Keep records: Document all payments received, including dates and amounts. This can help you track inconsistencies and provide evidence if needed.
- Communicate: If possible, try to communicate with the other parent to understand why payments are inconsistent. There might be a temporary issue that can be resolved through discussion.
- Contact local child support agency: If available, reach out to your local child support agency to help you enforce support and ensure the other parent make payments consistently.
While these steps may seem simple, they can help put support payments back on track if carried out properly and the circumstances permit.
Other recourses
If the other parent refuses to pay support according to the order and continues to pay inconsistently, you may consider seeking legal advice from a family law attorney. They can provide guidance on your legal options and help you take appropriate action, such as filing a motion for enforcement or modification of the support order.
It is important to address inconsistent payments promptly to ensure that you are meeting your child’s financial needs.