Most parents consider providing for their children an act of love. Sadly, in some cases the court has to order a parent to fulfill their obligation to their family. When child support orders are violated, children are often forced to go without some of their basis needs. Law enforcement in Texas is currently working to ensure that noncustodial parents are held accountable with regard to child support commitments.
The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Department recently conducted a sweep in conjunction with the Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division in an effort to apprehend parents that allegedly have not fulfilled their court ordered obligation to provide financial support to their children. Parents with outstanding warrants were the target of the sweep. Three teams of officers were dispatched after a 4:30 a.m. meeting in an attempt to find and arrest the subjects before they left home for the day.
A total of five people were arrested in the latest sweep, bringing the total number of parents picked up this month to nine. If arrested on a civil warrant, delinquent parents could be subject to six months in custody if the underlying facts are established in court. In cases where cash bond is posted for release, the money received will be paid to the custodial parents due back child support payments.
When ordered to do so by the court, paying child support becomes a legal responsibility. When parents fail to comply, they will likely face legal ramifications for violating a court order. If children are not benefitting from the financial support necessary to provide for their basis needs, extreme stress and financial hardship can fall on the family. Texas parents that find themselves facing a child support issue may benefit from exploring their rights and responsibilities under current state laws, as well as resources available to provide them assistance.
Source: ketknbc.com, Deputies arrest 5 Nacogdoches Co. parents allegedly failing to pay child support, No author, March 24, 2014