When a divorced parent experiences financial issues they may fall behind on child support. If they do not petition the court to modify the child support order, they will remain on the hook for all unpaid child support under the terms of the existing child support order despite being unemployed. To make matters worse, a parent who fails to make court ordered child support payments may also be required to pay interest on past due obligations, resulting in getting even farther behind.
Even if you think your financial situation will improve in the future, it important to essentially ‘lock in the date’ by filing a modification petition when your financial circumstances significantly change for the worse. In the event a period of unemployment extends beyond what was expected, modifications to the child support order are retroactive to the date the modification was filed. Failure to file a modification of child support keeps the existing order going and all payments due. Interest will be assessed on all late payments, quickly snowballing into significant arrears.
Contact Our Wisconsin Child Support Modification Attorneys for Help
Interest is only one potential consequence of a failure to pay child support obligations. A parent who willfully fails to pay support for several months or owes more than a set amount can be charged with a criminal offense. They can also lose driving privileges or even a professional license as delinquency adds up. It is better to work with an experienced child support attorney at the first sign of financial trouble to avoid problems later. Contact the family law attorneys at Probst Law Offices at 414-210-3135 for your free consultation.