Children have a legal right to a share of the resources of both parents, so courts typically order one parent to pay child support to the other. Without those funds, custodial parents often struggle to cover their rent, food, and other basic expenses, which is why family law in every state provides tools for collecting the money you’re owed. Below are a few steps to take if your child’s other parent refuses to pay their share.

How to Enforce a Child Support Order

File a Motion With the Court

Whenever possible, you should try to work with the other parent to resolve any issues that might be keeping them from making their payments on time. However, if you aren’t receiving payments at all, you should start by filing a contempt action with the court that originally issued the order. The family law court may use a variety of tools to compel payment or amend your child custody order to give you more enforcement options.

Obtain an Order for Income Deduction

The simplest and most reliable way to enforce child custody payment is to have the money deducted directly from the other parent’s paycheck. Your original child custody order may contain a provision giving you this ability, or you might need to go back to court to obtain the proper paperwork.

Hire a Family Law Attorney

An attorney who understands the mechanisms available can alleviate the stress of navigating the complex system and offer the guidance you need. For instance, they might be able to have a portion of the other parent’s tax refund directed to you, get the other party’s driver’s license suspended, or take any other steps necessary to achieve your goals. 

Since 1985, Smith & Tabor Attorneys At Law have helped parents throughout Georgia’s Stephens, Habersham, Franklin, Rabun, and Hall counties get the child support they’re owed. If your child’s parent isn’t fulfilling their obligations, you can rely on them to fight for your rights and the well-being of your family. Visit their website for more on their family law services or call (706) 886-5141 to speak with an attorney and schedule a consultation.