Supporting a child is a tremendous undertaking. The financial, emotional and time investment is a life-long commitment. Regardless of the parents desire to remain together as a couple, the commitment to the child or children remains in place. Child support agreements are often set in place to help custodial parents feed, clothe and shelter the kids. When a parent is unable to make the payments, Texas courts will often step in.
Child support is the financial obligation that a noncustodial parent is ordered to pay by a court. The hope that child support brings is a custodial parent who can financially support the child/children without the aid of social welfare. Many also insist that child support helps to keep the noncustodial parent involved in the child’s/children’s lives.
When an obligated parent refuses or is unable to make payments, and fails to secure a formal modification of a standing support agreement, the state or the custodial parent may decide to seek legal action to recover outstanding arrears. Garnishing one’s wages is usually the most recognized option for recovering payments. Tax refund intercepting and license suspension are other avenues for states to collect owed child support.
A Texas parent who has custody of a child has the option to seek child support from the noncustodial parent. Understanding the options to obtaining the child support and the amount which is fair under current Texas law can be difficult to understand. With the aid of a family law attorney, a parent or caregiver can seek legal and binding means of support through a child support agreement. Should the circumstances change for either parent, the agreement can be amended.
Source: wahpetondailynews.com, “Child support – what is it, who pays, why it’s important“, Carrie McDermott, Nov. 29, 2017