Some parents may think that paying child support is a punishment. They may decide to skip payments as a way to get back at their ex. However, in the end, it is the child who suffers. The role of child support payments is to make sure the child’s needs are taken care of as well as help maintain the child’s standard of living.
What Happens if Payments are Missed?
When someone misses their court-ordered child support payments, the result can be increased stress. The custodial parent can involve the Florida Department of Revenue. Their Child Support Enforcement team can look into the problem to determine if the non-custodial parent has the money to afford the payments. They may make contact with the non-custodial parent. If they are unable to collect a payment from the non-custodial parent, they can file for a hearing. The result could be enforcing or modifying the payment structure. There can also be some penalties assessed.
Can a Non-custodial Parent Modify Child Support?
If the non-custodial parent can no longer make the payments that were ordered, a modification can be made to the order. The non-custodial parent can petition the court and explain why the change is necessary. The change will have to be considered “substantial” for a change to be made. Some substantial changes include:
After the petition is filed, the custodial parent has 20 days to answer. If they agree with the proposed changes, the judge may grant them. If they provide reasons the changes should not occur, the judge will set a hearing date and the non-custodial parent will need to prove their case.
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