Paying child support is a court-ordered obligation you must not miss. If you fail to pay on time, the unpaid amount transforms into arrears. Ignoring this debt can lead to severe legal and financial penalties.
If you have an outstanding child support debt, learning Florida’s laws is crucial in protecting your financial future.
Understanding child support arrears
When you fail to pay child support, the total amount of unpaid support accumulates over time. In Florida, the courts do not treat child support arrears as consumer debt but as a money judgment against you.
Arrears do not disappear if you avoid settling them. Instead, they accumulate interest at a statutory rate set quarterly by the Chief Financial Officer. As a result, your child support debt continues to grow.
Facing child support enforcement
Upon the lapse of a child support payment, the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) or the other parent can initiate aggressive enforcement actions. Generally, they can use these methods to collect unpaid support:
- Wage garnishment
- Driver’s license suspension
- Cancellation of passport
- Asset seizure
- Contempt of court
Facing any of these can put you at a disadvantage. The best way to avoid them is to settle your child support payments on time.
Your path to resolution
Proactivity is your best approach to addressing child support arrears. Instead of waiting for a notice from the DOR, seek ways to reduce or settle your debt. You may negotiate a reasonable payment plan with the DOR or file for a child support modification with the court.
Handling arrears can be a complex legal situation where a simple mistake can carry steep penalties. Before you negotiate or file anything, it would be wise to get legal advice.