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  5. What Will Happen if I Fail to Pay What I Owe in Child Support?

What Will Happen if I Fail to Pay What I Owe in Child Support?

On Behalf of Lisa D. Stern | Aug 17, 2022 | Child Support |

We all have the best intentions when it comes to providing our children with all their needs as they grow up. For some parents, this includes paying what they owe in child support.

However, you cannot always predict your financial future and there may come a time when you are unable to meet your child support obligations. If these delinquencies build up, you could face penalties for failing to pay child support.

Consequences for failing to pay child support

One possible consequence of failing to pay what you owe in child support is income withholding. A friend of the court can send a withholding notice to your employer and other sources of income. Once received, your employer must immediately send what you owe in unpaid child support to the state out of the income you would have earned.

In addition, if you fail to pay what you owe in child support your federal tax return could be intercepted and your refund will be used to pay what you owe. This is only an option if you owe a minimum of $150 to the state of Michigan or if you owe a minimum of $500 to the family.

Also, if you fail to pay what you owe in child support, the Friend of the Court can report these delinquencies to a credit bureau. This is an option if you are two or more months behind on your child support obligations. This black mark on your credit report can make it more difficult to get a loan or housing.

What can you do if you cannot pay what you owe in child support?

These are only three possible consequences for failing to pay child support. There is a multitude of options available to the state of Michigan to collect past due support. Any of these consequences can significantly impact your life.

If you find you are unable to meet your child support obligations, it may be beneficial to discuss your situation with a family law attorney. With the right help you can take the steps needed to pay or modify what you owe. Working out a repayment plan can help you address your delinquencies, and a modification of child support can be a way to stop further delinquencies from happening in the future.

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