When two parents in Texas are not in a relationship with one another, one of them may be responsible for providing financial support to the other. This typically happens when one parent has primary custody of shared children and is therefore responsible for their day-to-day needs. Sometimes, the paying parent neglects to make proper child support payments. The reasons for doing so may be understandable, but they don’t change the fact that children need those funds. One out-of-state county recently decided to crack down on parents who aren’t making proper payments by launching an operation to target the issue.
The county sheriff’s office saw that there were a number of parents who failed to pay child support, and it responded by creating operation “Pay Up.” The first day, law enforcement arrested 13 people for non-payment. Representatives say that they intend to serve and collect several other warrants. The county sheriff said that 15 people still owe over $60,000.
The county commissioner supported the sheriff’s office in its efforts, saying that the debt these parents owe directly affects vulnerable children. Contrary to what some may believe, the payments aren’t “extra” money, but rather, they cover crucial living expenses. Both the sheriff’s office and the county commissioner say that non-payment of child support is as important to them as other serious local issues, such as animal abuse or illegal drugs.
Though some parents fail to make child support payments out of malice, many other parents struggle to pay for valid reasons, such as a job loss or family illness. Even so, children still require a certain level of care. Here in Texas, parents who are having difficulty either making or receiving proper payments may want to consult an attorney to determine what the best course of action may be in order to ensure that children receive the care they need.