Raising a child is rewarding, but it is also expensive. From food and clothing to school supplies and medical care, the costs add up quickly.
Child support is designed to ensure that both parents contribute fairly to these expenses, regardless of their relationship status. When a parent stops paying, it isn’t just an annoyance for the other parent; it directly impacts the child’s quality of life. Fortunately, New Jersey has a robust legal system in place to ensure parents meet their financial obligations to their kids.
Enforcing child support orders
In New Jersey, the Probation Division is typically responsible for monitoring and enforcing child support payments. When a parent falls behind on payments, the state has broad powers to collect the funds. Here are the common enforcement methods:
- Income withholding: The most common method is garnishing wages directly from the parent’s paycheck before they even receive it.
- License suspension: The state can suspend the non-paying parent’s driver’s license, professional license or even recreational hunting/fishing licenses.
- Intercepting tax refunds: If the parent is owed a federal or state tax refund, the government can seize that money to pay off the child support debt.
- Credit reporting: Credit bureaus also get notifications regarding significant debts, which can damage the parent’s credit score and ability to get loans.
- Bench warrant: In severe cases where a parent refuses to appear in court or pay, a judge may issue a bench warrant for their arrest.
While some of these actions happen automatically through the Probation Division, others may require filing a specific motion in court. The goal of these aggressive tactics is to ensure the child receives the financial support they are legally entitled to.
Get the support your child needs
If you are not receiving the child support ordered by the court, you do not have to handle the financial burden alone. Speaking with a family law attorney can help you understand your options.