It can be stressful and frustrating when your ex is failing to pay child support. Child support is crucial for covering your child’s needs, ranging from their daily expenses, education expenses, and healthcare costs. When your ex stops paying child support, the strain on your finances can be significant. If you find yourself in this situation, here are some steps you can take to address the issue.
1. Communicate with Your Ex
Before taking legal action, communicating with your ex may prove beneficial. There might be a valid reason for the missed payments, such as job loss, medical issues, or even just a bank transfer error. Understanding your ex’s situation can sometimes lead to a temporary understanding until they can resume regular payments, or at the very least, give you a stronger foundation for legal proceedings.
2. Document Everything
Keep detailed records of all missed payments, including dates and amounts. This documentation will be essential if you decide to initiate legal action. Also, to the extent that you communicated to your ex, as suggested, you should save all communication with your ex regarding child support, which could prove very important.
3. Seek Legal Advice
Consult with a family law attorney to understand your options. An attorney can guide you through the process of enforcing the child support order and help you decide the best course of action.
4. Initiate Legal Proceedings
If your ex is more than thirty days late on their payment, there are several different avenues you could go down. Most are aware of filing for “contempt”, but additional options are available to consider as well, including an enforcement action. The type of legal action can have a significant impact on the end result.
5. Consider State Resources
In Maryland, the Child Support Administration (CSA) within the Department of Human Services can assist in a full range of issues related to child support orders. There are various tools available to the CSA, which can be helpful when enforcing a child support order.
Conclusion
Dealing with your ex failing to pay child support can be challenging and stressful, but there are steps that you can take to ensure that your child receives the support they need. By communicating with your ex, documenting the non-payment, seeking legal advice, and utilizing the wide array of resources available, the non-payment can be addressed effectively.
If you have any questions or need assistance with your child support case, please feel free to contact Christopher Castellano or your JGL attorney.
