Divorce can be difficult for a husband and wife. On the other hand, it can be even more difficult when there are children involved. One spouse will usually end up being ordered to pay child support to the other parent. The authorities take this obligation seriously and can levy heavy penalties and even jail time against those who fail to make support payments for children. The Texas Attorney General’s Office recently worked with a local sheriff’s department to round up a group of parents who have not been keeping up-to-date with child support payments.
The local sheriff’s department worked closely with the attorney general’s division in charge of child support cases in order to arrest 34 individuals in a recent sweep. The state attorney general cited the obligation of parents as well as the legal requirements to make court-ordered support payments for children. He also stated that it was important for children to have the necessary resources to grow up strong and healthy.
The parents arrested may spend as much as six months behind bars as a result of the sweep. Any money from cash bonds paid by those arrested will go towards paying their owed child support payments. The Attorney General’s Office reports that it has collected more than $3.4 billion for the fiscal year which ended at the close of August of 2010.
This case in Texas illustrates the seriousness of failing to make child support payments. However, it is possible to avoid such scenarios by making sure support payments are manageable. If one begins to fall behind in making scheduled payments it may be a good idea to petition the court for a modification of support payments. This may enable the parent to renegotiate a more reasonable payment schedule.
Source: Brownsville Herald, “Sheriff arrests parents for child support violations,” April 12, 2013
