When Your Ex Refuses to Pay Child Support: Dos and Don’ts

Mesnik Law Group
3 min readMar 21, 2024

--

Divorces do occur in marriages. Regaining independence is a positive thing, but occasionally things don’t go as planned. After a divorce, it’s not uncommon for people to find themselves in a scenario where their ex-spouse refuses to pay child support, leaving them to pick up the tab. If your ex-spouse won’t pay child support or your ex refuses to pay alimony, you have three options to consider. Keep reading to find out more.

Discuss it with them.

Though it might appear a bit too straightforward, this choice might be the correct one if it adheres to Occam’s razor rules. Although it could be challenging, attempting to work things out with your ex-spouse could prevent you both from going to court.

Making contact is a fantastic method to find out why they aren’t paying child support and to begin the conversation. They can be seeking revenge, or their financial condition might be impacted by external factors. In order to work together to discover a solution, it’s critical to strike up a discussion. If, however, you are unable to reach a just deal and they are still unable or unwilling to pay, you ought to look into other options.

The Lawful Choice

It might be necessary for you to take legal action if you and your ex-spouse are unable to come to a solid arrangement or refuses to communicate with e. Regretfully, you are unable to visit the courts right away. Prior to filing a lawsuit to enforce the child support agreement, you have to wait roughly six months. You have the opportunity to go to court after that point, and they have a number of strategies at their disposal to secure the necessary support for you. In the event that your ex-spouse refuses to pay, the court may:

· Until then, revoke their professional license

· Arrange their pay

· Hold back tax refunds

· Put them behind bars

You ought to try to resolve the matter with your ex-spouse before going to court because some choices are more drastic than others. Hopefully, the two of you can work out a workable temporary arrangement, but if not, you have legal action available to you.

You have the option to file a move for contempt if your ex-partner is not paying child support. With this lawsuit, the court is being asked to find your ex-partner in contempt for not following the child support agreement. Your ex-partner may be subject to fines, wage garnishment, or even jail time if the court considers them to be in contempt.

You can also get assistance from child support enforcement agencies in order to collect child support. To get child support, they have the power to find your ex-partner, garnish their income, seize tax returns, and file other legal procedures. To find out more about your choices, get in touch with the child support enforcement office in your area.

The Best Result

These were some of the harsher options you and the court could have used to achieve the necessary child support payments. There is, however, a less severe alternative that nevertheless earns you the money you’re due. To help them catch up on the money owing, your attorney can negotiate with the judge and your ex-spouse to establish a repayment plan. Even though the court did not give you the money in your initial divorce and child support agreement, you will eventually receive the compensation to which you are legally due.

The Conclusion

Looking to hire a paternity lawyer in San Diego? Mesnik Law is a top-rated law firm specializing in family matters including legal separation in San Diego. Whether you want to hire a family law attorney in San Diego or want professional support from child custody lawyer in San Diego, they can help.

Disclaimer- The information provided in this content is just for educational purposes and is written by a professional writer. Consult us to know more about what to do is your ex refuses to pay alimony.

--

--

Mesnik Law Group

Get the finest of legal representatives on just a call. Whether you face divorce issues, or property cases.