Staying current on a child support obligation can be difficult for a parent who sees his income fluctuate and expenses increase. All across Arizona many well-meaning mothers and fathers owe their kids money through delinquent payments on their child support agreements and orders. Recently the state took an interesting approach to allow parents who owe child support to their children to get current without having to go to court.
The Division of Child Support Services hosted a phone-a-thon that allowed parents to call in and make payments on their overdue support obligations. Dealing with unpaid child support can be a major undertaking for some families when custodial and noncustodial parents meet in court to settle amounts due; the phone-a-thon let parents utilize a special phone line to address their delinquencies without the hassle of resorting to courtroom proceedings.
The failure to pay child support can be a major problem for a child as well as the parent who is obligated to provide the support. While a child needs the financial support in order to have his best interests served, a parent must manage their payments so that he is not penalized by the legal system for disobeying a court order.
Parents who become subject to enforcement efforts for child support can see their drivers’ licenses suspended and their wages garnished. There are other enforcement tactics that individuals may see used against them to have their child support obligations fulfilled and parents who need help getting back on track with their support responsibilities may wish to enlist the help of their family law attorneys. If falling behind on child support is an ongoing problem for a parent he or she may benefit from seeking a modification to the operating child support order that makes it easier for the parent to stay current on the payments.
Source: kjzz.org, “Arizona Hosting Phone-A-Thon To Collect Back Child Support,” Kathy Richie, July 14, 2016
