You can face serious consequences if you are a parent and fail to pay your court-ordered child support. Not only does unpaid child support affect your relationship with your children, but it can also lead to financial penalties and criminal charges. This article will discuss what happens if you don’t pay child support in Kentucky.
Financial Penalties for Unpaid Child Support
If you are behind on your payments or not paying at all, there are several financial penalties that the courts may impose. You could be subject to wage garnishment, meaning a portion of your paycheck is taken out each month and sent directly to the custodial parent. Additionally, any tax refunds you may have coming could be held and used towards the overdue payments. The state of Kentucky can also suspend business licenses and professional licenses until all outstanding support is paid in full.
Criminal Charges for Unpaid Child Support
In extreme cases where an individual is found to be willfully disregarding their child support obligation, they can face criminal charges such as contempt of court or incarceration. A judge may issue an arrest warrant if they believe an individual is intentionally avoiding their responsibility by failing to appear in court or by refusing to comply with orders from the court or from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). If this occurs, individuals will likely remain in jail until they appear before a judge or come up with sufficient funds for their overdue payments. However, those who are unable to make their payments due to financial hardship should speak with an attorney about filing a motion for modification instead of being held in contempt of court.
A Qualified Child Support Attorney Can Help
Not paying child support can lead to serious consequences both financially and legally. It’s important that parents fulfill their obligations as ordered by the court; failure to do so can result in fines, license suspensions, wage garnishment, imprisonment, or more severe penalties depending on the situation.
If you are struggling financially but still need help understanding your rights and responsibilities when it comes to child support payments in Kentucky, it is recommended that you speak with a qualified child support attorney as soon as possible so that they can help defend your case accordingly. Find out more about child support calculations and more from Clagett Law.
