Cumming Child Support Enforcement Lawyer
Child support is a vital resource that helps ensure your children are adequately cared for. If your children’s other parent is not following through with their court-ordered requirement to provide financial support, you may need to speak with a Cumming child support enforcement lawyer. Child support enforcement is best done through the Georgia family court system, and the process may be easier to navigate if you have a trusted attorney at your side to help you along the way.
Georgia Child Support Laws
Most laws that apply to child support are specific to each state. In Georgia, O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15 provides the guidelines the family courts use to help calculate monthly child support amounts. Factors such as each parent’s income, health insurance options, and childcare costs can all help the court make a determination that is fair to everyone involved.
If a parent’s life circumstances change, they can file with the family court to have a child support order modified. This is the best option a parent has if they are struggling to make payments on time and in full. A parent who does not seek to modify the order but stops making the necessary installments can be ordered to pay all of the overdue amounts, even if the court finds the number has become a higher burden than it was at the time it was decided.
Having a knowledgeable Cumming child support enforcement attorney on your side can help you make the necessary arguments to increase the odds of a favorable support order.
Enforcing Child Support Orders
Failure to follow through with making child support payments can put a parent in contempt of court. The Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) requires the custodial parent to file a contempt action against the non-custodial parent to enforce the support agreement.
Parents who do not make their child support payments in full could face a series of consequences, including imprisonment, fines, negative reports to credit bureaus, and loss of driving or hunting licenses.
The family court’s primary goal in adjudicating child support disputes is the children’s best interests. If the delinquent parent does not pay despite the court order, the state can garnish the parent’s wages, withhold tax returns, and place liens on their bank accounts.
The only remedy for child support enforcement is through court action. The custodial parent must still follow any orders that apply to them, such as following custody and visitation schedules, even if the other parent is not making child support payments. If a custodial parent tries to retaliate against their ex for non-payment, the ex can make their own legal contempt claims and create further headaches for the custodial parent. Working with a dependable child support attorney in Cumming helps ensure the appropriate steps are taken when working towards an enforcement order.
Let a Cumming Child Support Enforcement Attorney Help
When faced with the challenge of missing child support payments, your safest option is to go back to family court for an enforcement order. Ensure you still follow all custody and visitation orders, even if your children’s other parent is not doing their part. Following the laws as they apply to your case will keep you and your kids protected. An experienced Cumming child support enforcement lawyer can help you file the right paperwork and make your case in court so your children can get the financial assistance they deserve. Call the Atlanta Divorce Law Group today to learn more.
