How much back child support is a felony in Texas?

How much back child support is a felony in Texas?

When two parents with children go through a divorce, it is common for child support to be a part of the legal separation and divorce agreement. Child support refers to the sum of money that the noncustodial parent is required to pay to the custodial parent, or the primary caregiver, in order to cover the costs of basic living expenses like food, clothing, medical care, and education. 

If your ex-partner misses a payment, they owe you back child support. If they continue to skip or miss payments, this can become a serious legal issue. Discuss the matter with a Fort Worth child support attorney immediately. 

Is failing to pay child support illegal?

Failing to pay child support might seem like a minor offense to some, but what often starts as a civil issue between two ex-partners can escalate to a much larger legal problem and potential felony charge in Texas. 

If someone has been ordered by the courts to pay child support and fails to do so, this is considered a federal offense that is punishable by jail time, fines, and other penalties. Typically, these charges come into play once there is a year’s worth of back child support accumulated for a child under the age of 18, but depending on the situation, this could happen sooner as well.

What are the consequences of not paying child support?

It might seem like a never-ending battle of difficult conversations with your ex-partner when you are attempting to collect unpaid child support. If you find yourself struggling in this situation, it can be beneficial to work with an experienced child support attorney. 

The court has a few different ways to enforce child support payments and to take away the rights of those who do not pay. Recently, the state of Texas also introduced the ability to put a lien on the personal property of the individual who is behind on their child support payments. Some of the other common consequences for failure to pay child support in Texas include: 

• Wage garnishment – in order to repay the back child support that is owed.
• Seizing bank accounts – this is another method of collecting unpaid child support.
• Up to six months of jail time – or as ordered by the court. 
• Withholding income tax returns – a third way of collecting money to repay back child support.
• Suspension of license – this could be a suspension of a personal driver’s license or a professional license. These are often suspended until the back child support is repaid in full. 

Contact an Experienced Fort Worth, Texas, Child Support Attorney Today

If you are dealing with back child support and struggling to receive the child support that you are entitled to, it is helpful to speak with an experienced attorney. At Mims Ballew Hollingsworth Family Law, our team is here to help support our clients who have not received child support or are entitled to back child support. You can contact us online to book your appointment. We are here and ready to help.

Constance Mims

Constance Mims has over fifteen years of experience practicing exclusively family law. Mrs. Mims is Board Certified in Family Law, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She is Collaborative Law certified and is a shrewd negotiator, not to mention her experience in the most challenging child custody, child support, spousal maintenance, alimony, prenuptial agreements, and divorce issues, both in court and in the appellate arena.

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