Every child has a right to be supported by both parents, whether the parents are married, unmarried or divorced. When a California family court orders a non-custodial parent to pay child support, the child support must be paid in full, on time each month. If a parent falls behind on paying child support or fails to pay the full amount of ordered child support the parent may be found in contempt of court and could face jail time.
At the law office of David J. Crandall, we represent parents throughout the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County. We provide highly skilled legal advice in all matters involving child support, including child support enforcement.
If you have questions about recovering overdue child support or require legal assistance in modifying your ordered child support payment, an experienced attorney at our family law firm can answer your questions and provide the legal counsel you need. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a family law attorney.
Custodial Parents: Enforce Court-Ordered Child Support
When you don't receive the monthly child support payment, it can be difficult to manage your many parental obligations — from providing shelter for your child to putting food on the table. When the non-custodial parent fails to pay court-ordered child support, there are options. As an experienced child custody and support lawyer, David J. Crandall can help you initiate an enforcement action to hold the non-custodial parent in contempt of court and recover overdue child support payments. We can also initiate enforcement proceedings when the non-custodial parent refuses to maintain health insurance for the children as ordered by the court.
Non-Custodial Parents: Avoid a Contempt Action for Failure to Pay
Failure to pay child support can result in a contempt action that comes with a 5-day jail penalty for each missed payment. Whether you are facing a contempt action or are having problems keeping up with child support obligations, it is important to have a skilled advocate on your side.
While some non-custodial parents' refusal to pay child support is intentional, other parents fail to pay because they can't pay. If you have suffered a pay decrease as a result of a demotion, cut in your hours, job loss or other factor, it is important to act promptly to request a modification in the ordered child support payments. Modifications are not retroactive. Therefore, it is important to seek a modification of the court order as soon as there is a significant change in your circumstances that affects your ability to pay the ordered support. We also can work with the court to negotiate a reasonable payment plan to pay child support arrears (back support).
Contact a Child Support Lawyer
Discuss your delinquent child support case with an experienced and knowledgeable family lawyer. Contact the law office of David J. Crandall for a free case evaluation.
Our law firm has been serving clients throughout the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County since 1974. Our fees are always competitively priced.
