There are many factors to take into consideration when it comes to back child support. Non-custodial parents who have to pay child support should be aware of the consequences of falling behind, which may include being taken into custody, having one’s tax refund intercepted, losing the ability to obtain a passport and other ramifications. However, parents should also be aware of some of the reasons why people find themselves in this situation and do all they can to stay caught up on child support payments.
For starters, it is important to make sure that your budget is compatible with the child support you owe. Some parents have spent too much money in a particular month, whether they went on vacation or spent too much time at a casino. However, even the most financially responsible parents may be unable to pay child support because they have experienced a health problem they had no way to prepare for or they are fired from their job. Some people have even had their hours cut or lost the ability to work temporarily, making them unable to pay child support.
When someone has been through significant financial changes, they may be able to modify their child support order and make the payments they owe more compatible with their current income. Even parents who are unable to modify their child support order may find that setting up a payment plan helps them get caught up on the child support that they owe and avoid the aforementioned consequences.