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Bucks County Divorce Attorneys > Blog > Family Law > 3 Reasons a Parent Stops Child Support Payments

3 Reasons a Parent Stops Child Support Payments

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For many people, divorce is an exhausting process, both financially and emotionally. One of the many shifts for parents who divorce is managing finances as a single parent. After all, when you lived with your ex and supported the children together, family finances may have been more streamlined. Sometimes people find they are struggling to make ends meet after a divorce is finalized.

When finances are tight, it can be extremely difficult to have child support payments stop. Because of the distress stopped payments cause, it may be hard to understand why your ex would not be paying you on time and in full. While there are many reasons individuals stop making support payments, a few are more common than others. When your ex stops making support payments, there are solutions. Talk to a skilled Bucks County family attorney to learn about your options.

Arguments About How Money Is Being Spent

People have different ideas about value and how to spend money. So it stands to reason that your ex-spouse may not agree with how you are spending your household budget. For instance, if your child wants to play an instrument and you decide to invest in a private teacher, your ex may disagree with this decision because group classes are a fraction of the cost. In these situations, a spouse may believe their child support payments are being misspent.

In reality, it doesn’t matter how you handle your own finances. Your ex-spouse can not stop making court-mandated payments because they disagree with your spending habits. How you manage your household budget is up to you.

Person Making Payments Experiences a Financial Shift

If a person has a financial shift, such as a job loss, they may be unable to make payments. Child support payments are set at the time of a divorce. At that time, a parent may have had a lot of resources. But it is possible that their financial picture has changed due to a large medical expense or downward shift in their take home income. When this happens, it is best to have the payment amount changed. Discuss modification options with a Bucks County family attorney.

Spitefully Stopping Payments

When feelings are hurt, people sometimes make bad decisions. When a person is upset about the divorce or feel that parenting time has not been divided fairly, they may withhold payments. Disagreements or not, parents are legally obligated to make payments that are mandated by the court.

There are consequences when a parent does not pay the court-ordered child support they are required to pay. It is possible they will be fined, imprisoned, or held in contempt of court. If your ex owes you child support, talk to a legal professional. Help is available.

Are you ready to secure court-mandated payments from your ex-spouse? The family law attorneys at Kardos, Rickles & Hand can help. Our dedicated legal team understands the finer points of family law. There are opportunities to create the life you want. Schedule your consultation today, call 215-968-6602.

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