In Virginia or elsewhere in the U.S., broken relationships or marriages ending in divorce may lead to sudden and unexpected financial difficulties for one or both partners. The situation becomes further complicated and painful when children are involved. A court, keeping the best interests of the child in mind, may order one parent to pay child support to the other. That, however, could remain only on paper if the payments are not actually made. All states now have departments or agencies that provide child support enforcement services.
Recently, police officers arrested a 49-year-old father for failing to pay child support. Police had prior information about where the 49-year-old father would be and went looking for him. When they tried to approach the man he became increasingly hostile and tried to get away. He then tried to enter a residence and the police officers feared that he might get hold of a weapon there and attack. Finally, after warning him, they had to use an electroshock device, twice, to subdue and arrest him.
Police arrested him and are pressing charges for criminally neglecting his family and four counts of child support payment failures. The father owes approximately $40,000 in court-ordered child support. It is not known if the father was in financial trouble himself and was thus unable to make the payments. Nonetheless, having failed in his obligations as a biological parent, he is likely to face some or all of the following penalties: fines, withholding his wages, having his tax refunds intercepted, property seizure and a jail term for a contempt of court order.
Getting adequate financial support is critical for the well-being of the child. Parents involved in child support disputes should consider getting proper legal help by hiring lawyers with experience in family law to obtain the best possible amount for the child. On the other hand, the paying spouse might also need to consider seeking legal help so that excessive monetary demands are not made and the amount is aligned with his or her income.
Source: The Daily News, "Man owing thousands in back child support arrested," April 5, 2014
No Comments
Leave a comment