Children have a right to receive support from their parents. Tennessee laws regarding child support uphold and enforce this right. Child support is the process by which the Alternate Residential Parent sends funds to the Primary Residential Parent in order to properly care for the child.
There are times when the noncustodial parent fails to pay the custodial parent according to a court order. Overdue child support can come with serious legal and financial consequences for the non-paying party.
Penalties for overdue child support
According to Tennesee child support statutes, past-due child support payments may be punished with the following methods:
- Placement of a property lien
- Seizure of bank accounts
- Driver’s license revocation
- Interception of income tax refunds
- Denial of a passport
- Report of the amount owed to credit bureaus
According to the Tennessee Department of Human Services, penalties for unpaid child support are usually administrative at first. If administrative remedies do not work, the involvement of the court may be necessary.
Modifying child support orders
Sometimes, a parent is unable to afford child support payments due to a significant change in circumstances. Some changes that may warrant a modification include a change in income or an increase or decrease in the number of children receiving support. Parents can also voluntarily agree to alter the support order. But the court may deny a modification request by a parent who is intentionally refusing to make payments. The receiving parent can also ask for an increase in support payments in certain situations.
The information in this post is for educational purposes only and does not serve as a substitute for legal advice.