Impact of Job Loss on Child Support
debtLOGIC
- Posted:
3/3/2009
Job losses are mounting up in startling numbers across the US. Not a day goes by that we do not hear of another national or local company laying off people in order to shed expenses and be able to remain in business.
One of the areas impacted by these actions is in the paying of child support by non-custodial parents.
If you are one of the unfortunate who have lost your job, then you are probably concerned about not only how you are going to provide for you and your family, but if you pay child support, how you are going to manage that as well.
Here are some tips that might help.
Do Not Do Nothing. While this seems like a ‘duh’ suggestion, the fact remains that this is the reason that there are deadbeat parents. Those who fail to follow court orders in this matter can and will face dire consequences when they are finally taken to court for non-payment. Court orders are nothing to be slack or nonchalant about. You will get caught and be held accountable. It is just a matter of time.
What to do. You have the option of petitioning the court (even on your own) for a modification of the child support agreement based on the fact that circumstances may have changed which makes it impossible to pay the amount that the court has so ordered. Contact this office in your location right away. Most court systems in most states provide information which can be used to make a filing on your own. Be sure to include documentation of what you make and how much you think you can afford.
Life Changes. The following are the most likely changes in circumstances that will be viewed favorably by most courts. Changes in income (you have changed jobs or companies). Unemployment (loss of a job completely or simply laid off with no known return expected). Medical expenses including those of family members which impose a financial hardship.
This can help you keep from falling behind and drowning in an endless sea of child support debt. That is a place to which you never want to be found.
Finally, never enter a verbal-only agreement when it comes to court ordered payments of any kind. You must file official court documents to have modifications made to court orders to make them legitimate and permanent. To avoid doing this leaves you wide open to further court actions.
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