This article discusses what to do if your ex doesn’t pay child support.
Child support is court-mandated payments made by one parent to the other. In Maryland, a child has the legal right to receive financial support from both parents. Generally, one parent pays the child support to the other to provide for the child’s basic needs. You work hard to provide for your kid and only desire the best for them; however, some people view support payments as unreasonable. What happens when the child’s other parent does not pay their fair share? This article discusses what to do if your ex doesn’t pay child support.
How Do Maryland Courts Determine Child Support?
The state of Maryland uses a standard formula to assist courts in determining the amount of child support parents must owe their children. The state’s child support guidelines consider parents’ income, the number of children, the current child support paid to other children, health insurance, and daycare costs. Maryland also finds alimony payments and spousal support in the child support calculations.
The Maryland Department of Human Services provides parents with a child support calculation tool to estimate what they might owe in payments. However, it would be helpful to consult with an experienced Maryland child support lawyer for a correct evaluation of the fees you might be owed. Call Mike the Lawyer at 410-869-3400 to schedule a strategy session about child custody.
What if the Other Parent Is Not Making Child Support Payments?
Child support is court-mandated, so failing to pay it can result in legal and financial complications for the parent who refuses to make the payments. If the other parent is not following their financial obligations, contact the Maryland Customer Care Center at 1-800-332-6347 and Mike the Lawyer at 410-869-2400. The child support office can complete enforcement action against the other parent by withholding child support from their unemployment benefits or wages. Or they might intercept federal and state tax refunds to make the payments.
Other Ways the Maryland Child Support Office Can Withhold Child Support
The Maryland child support office might also choose to:
- Deny a parent from obtaining or renewing a passport
- Embellish accounts at financial institutions
- Intercept Maryland lottery winnings
- Report delinquent parents to credit bureaus
- Refer parents with past-due support to the MVA for driver’s license suspension
In some cases, it would be necessary to initiate court proceedings if you can show the delinquent parent can pay child support but is not following through.
The Right Lawyer Can Make All the Difference
Hiring a lawyer should be the first thing you do when encountering any legal matter, not a last resort. Whether you’re thinking about a separation or divorce or have been charged with a crime, been injured in an accident, or your civil rights have been violated, you need to first know your rights. Contact Mike Mastracci today at 614 Edmondson Ave Catonsville, MD 21228 (with satellite offices in Ocean City, Snow Hill, and Salisbury, Maryland), 410-869-3400, and check us out on Facebook.