Child support is an extremely important responsibility. It is designed to provide children with the support they need to lead healthy, happy lives. If your children’s other parent is neglecting to pay the child support that he or she owes you, you may be surprised by the consequences your ex could face. The State of Texas takes a parent’s responsibility to his or her children extremely seriously, and as such, it implements serious consequences for those parents who fail to remain timely and compliant with child support payments.
Arrearages and Driver’s License Suspension
Every state has its own parameters in place regarding when a parent will face penalties related to child support arrearages. In Texas, a parent who has failed to make three consecutive child support payments is subject to having his or her driver's license suspended. Most people recognize that their driving privileges can be suspended for a DUI conviction or for racking up points with traffic violations, but few people realize that failing to pay child support can have the same effect.
The Consequences of License Suspension
If your ex has his or her license suspended, the complications that may arise are not difficult to imagine. To begin with, your children’s other parent will likely have to find a new method of getting to and from work and to pick up and deliver your children during visitation. Further, the consequences of driving on a suspended license can exacerbate the problem very quickly. Suffice to say, that having one’s driver’s license suspended is a significant impediment that your ex will probably find very motivating – if living up to his or her responsibilities regarding your children is not motivating enough.
Other Licensure
In addition to affecting one’s driver’s license, failure to pay child support for three consecutive months can affect other kinds of licensure:
- Professional licenses, including legal, medical, and real estate
- Occupational licenses
- Recreational licenses, including hunting and fishing
If your ex is at least three months behind in child support payments, he has 20 days from the date of receiving a notice of suspension regarding any applicable licensure in which to contest or rectify the situation.
Your Children
Raising children as a single parent is a difficult task, and you need the child support you are owed in order to provide for them. If your ex is derelict in his or her responsibilities to your shared children, it is time to consult with an experienced family law attorney.
If You Have Child Support Concerns, Consult with an Experienced Central Texas Family Law Attorney Today
After a divorce, your children’s continued well-being is naturally your primary concern. Child support is critical to your ability to provide your children with everything they need. If you are not receiving the child support payments you are owed, attorney Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Central Texas has the experience, dedication, and compassion to help. For more information, please contact us online or call us at (254) 220-4225 today.