Child support is a critical way to help single-parent families raise children and reduce the threat of poverty. Divorce can be particularly hard on children. As painful as a broken marriage can be, children shouldn’t be subjected to the problems associated with missed child support payments – lack of money for food, rent or other bills to name just a few.
In New York, there are state and local authorities who provide dedicated services for the protection of children. The child support enforcement program in the state of New York has legislative power to pursue and collect overdue child support through a variety of procedures. These procedures can take effect without the requirement to go to court.
What Information Does Child Support Enforcement Require?
When the Child Support Enforcement Bureau is preparing to investigate a parent whom they believe is delinquent, they will require the name, birth date, social security number and any relevant financial information from the noncustodial parent. They may also request the birth certificate of the child in question, plus any other relevant information, depending on the case.
What Penalties Can Child Support Enforcement Assess?
When Child Support Enforcement determines that a parent has become delinquent in paying support, there are several punitive actions they can take. Some of the penalties which can be assessed on a parent who is in arrears on their child support include:
- The suspension of their driver’s license if a parent is four months or more behind on payments.
- The parent’s income tax refund or lottery winnings may be intercepted if they owe more than $50.
- Any passport applications may be denied if a parent is $2500 or more behind on payments.
- The financial assets of a delinquent parent may be frozen if they are more than two months or $1000 behind.
- The negligent parent may be referred to New York State Taxation and Finance bureaus for sanctions if they fall more than four months or $500 back on child support.
- The parent may be reported to the credit bureau if they are more than $1000 or two months behind on payments.
- Any professional or other licenses may be suspended if they are more than four months late on child support payments.
Child support enforcement is an essential service to ensure that ex-spouses help cover the costs of raising a child. They help single-parent families to collect what is owed to them, as ordered by the court – all while keeping the best interests of the child – or children – in mind.
Unpaid child support can be a stressful problem when raising children after divorce. If you find yourself in this situation, you need a knowledgeable lawyer who will fight for the rights of you and your child. With over forty years of combined experience, the attorneys at Brian D. Perskin & Associates P.C. have the legal know-how and dedication to represent the rights and interests of our clients thoroughly. Contact Brian D. Perskin & Associates P.C. at 1 (877) 826-7257 today for a free consultation.