If you are the custodial parent to your children, some days are harder than others. Maintaining financial stability while parenting can be tough, and children are expensive. If your child’s other parent refuses to comply with the child support order and pay you what is owed, it can be frustrating and overwhelming. However, you have legal options. If you want to learn how you can enforce your child support order, continue reading and speak with a knowledgeable Union County child support attorney today.
How Can I Enforce My Child Support Order in NJ?
If your child’s other parent refuses to comply with the child support order, it is important that you work with the Probation Child Support Enforcement program. Below are some of the ways that they can enforce your right to receive child support.
- Income withholding: The state can garnish wages from the child’s other parent by ordering their employer to withhold a portion of their income to be sent directly to the custodial parent or the state
- Enforcement hearings: The court can hold hearings to address the parent’s failure to pay, to determine how to move forward, and whether any penalties will apply
- Bench warrants: The court can issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the non-paying parent
- Suspend licenses: The other parent could have their driver’s, occupational, or recreational licenses suspended until they pay what is owed
- Seizure of assets: The state can seize cash or cash-equivalent assets in bank accounts as a way to pay back overdue payments
- Intercept tax refunds: The non-paying parent’s federal or state tax refunds can be intercepted and put toward the balance they owe
- Report judgments: The court can create a judgment acknowledging the unpaid child support and establish a claim against the non-custodial parent
- Credit bureau reporting: If the unpaid support is greater than $1,000, it can be reported to credit bureaus and impact the non-paying parent’s credit
- Liens: The state can put liens on the property and assets of the non-custodial parent until they pay what is owed
- Seizure of proceeds from lawsuits: Any compensation or profits that the non-custodial parent makes off of a lawsuit can be seized and applied to the balance they owe in child support
- Passport denial: A non-paying parent’s passport application can be denied if they owe more than $2,500 in child support payments
- Lottery interception: Any winnings obtained through the lottery can be seized and put toward the child support balance
As established, there are many ways that your child support order can be enforced in New Jersey. The NJ Child Support Enforcement Program is here to help. Reach out to the program and a skilled family law attorney for legal assistance and representation today.
