In Pennsylvania, a child support order is a legally binding court order. When a judge sets a support amount, they expect the paying parent to make payments in full and on time.
Unfortunately, life doesn’t always go as planned, and some parents stop paying due to job loss or financial trouble. When this happens, the custodial parent is left struggling to cover the costs of raising a child alone.
What can you do if the other parent is not paying?
If a parent falls behind on payments, the Pennsylvania Domestic Relations Section (DRS) may intervene. The state has the authority to make life very difficult for parents who ignore court orders, using aggressive methods to recover the money. Here are the common enforcement actions:
- Wage garnishment: This is the most common method. The court orders the parent’s employer to deduct the support money directly from their paycheck before they even receive it.
- Tax refund interception: If the parent is expecting a refund from the IRS or the state, the government can seize that money and apply it to the unpaid child support debt.
- License suspension: The state can suspend the non-paying parent’s driver’s license. They can also revoke professional licenses and recreational licenses.
- Jail time: In severe cases, a judge can hold the parent in “contempt of court,” resulting in fines or time in jail until they pay a set amount.
You can file a petition to trigger these enforcement measures. They are designed to be uncomfortable enough to force the non-paying parent to comply with the order.
Secure the financial support your child needs
Raising a child is expensive, and you should not have to bear the entire financial burden on your own. If the other parent is hiding income or refusing to pay, you can take legal action to enforce child support orders.
