In Washington, parents are required by law to financially support their children. When a parent fails to pay court-ordered child support, it can place a heavy burden on the custodial parent and negatively impact the child’s well-being. Fortunately, there are ways to enforce these support orders and ensure payments are made.
Not paying child support has serious consequences. The unpaid amount can build up quickly, leading to:
Washington courts have several ways to make sure child support is paid. These methods include:
Courts can order a parent’s employer to take part of their wages and send it directly to the custodial parent. Wage garnishment continues until the overdue amount is paid, or regular payments are resumed.
If garnishing wages isn’t enough, courts can place a lien on the non-paying parent’s property. This means the parent can’t sell or refinance the property until the child support debt is cleared.
A parent’s driver’s license, professional license, or recreational license may be suspended if they don’t pay child support. This enforcement method pushes parents to make payments so they can continue driving or working.
Washington law allows the government to take a parent’s tax refund to cover unpaid child support. Any refunds they are owed will go directly to the custodial parent instead.
Courts can freeze or take money from a non-paying parent’s bank account to recover unpaid child support.
In Washington, the Division of Child Support (DCS) helps enforce child support orders. DCS can start collection actions, like wage garnishment or tax refund interception, without needing the custodial parent to hire a lawyer or go to court.
DCS also helps locate non-paying parents, establish paternity, and adjust child support payments if needed. They work with both parents to ensure that child support orders are followed.
If a parent continues to miss payments, the custodial parent can file a request with the court to enforce the child support order. The court may impose penalties, including jail time, if necessary.
In some cases, custodial parents may need to appeal a child support order if the original decision doesn’t reflect the financial realities of both parents. An experienced family law attorney can help review your options and guide you through the process.
Enforcing a child support order can be complicated. Working with a family law attorney, like the team at John L. Davis PLLC, can help ensure that the order is enforced properly. We can guide you through legal actions and work with DCS to collect unpaid support.
If you’re facing unpaid court-ordered child support in Vancouver or Southwest Washington, reach out to John L. Davis PLLC at (360) 597-4740 for professional guidance.
site by LegalRev