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Texas parents behind on child support denied registration renewal

On Behalf of | Aug 31, 2017 | Child Support |

Having a vehicle or some form of reliable transportation is paramount not only to earning a living but also in the freedom of going wherever, whenever. What comes as a surprise for most Texas parents who are behind on their child support payments is a statue that has recently been put into effect to help keep noncustodial parents on top of child support payments. The state now will not allow those more than six months behind in payments to renew their motor vehicle registrations.

The latest attempt to collect back due child support does not come as news to those who are behind. Parents who have failed to make payments are notified by letter 90 days prior to the due date of the registration renewal. The notification also includes instructions on how the issue can be remedied and who to contact. Parents can then reach out the Texas Office of the Attorney General and set up a payment plan to bring them current or at least lessen the gap in the amount of back payments owed.

Since the program’s initiation in Sept. 2016, more than $4 billion in owed child support has been collected. Reports indicate that this is putting the Division of Child Support Enforcement ahead of where it was last year in regard to collections. The office reports that this program, along with other methods of enforcement, are making a big difference.

When a noncustodial parent falls behind on child support payments, Texas child support enforcement has made it their mission to see that the situation is rectified. In some cases, parents choose not to pay. In other situations, circumstances change for the parent, and he or she can no longer make the payments. Should a parent be unable to make current scheduled payments, seeking a modification with the aid of an attorney may be the best solution to avoid heavy fines and the inability to renew one’s motor vehicle registration.

Source: kxan.com, “Failure to pay child support leads to over 14K vehicle registration denials“, Sarah Rafique, Aug. 29, 2017