Being current on child support required under new open carry law

While it may seem like a minor issue, not making your child support payments on time or in full can create significant issues in your life. In fact, being behind on child support can affect your ability to openly carry a handgun in Texas.

The new open carry law went into effect at the start of the year and allows those who meet certain requirements to openly carry a holstered handgun.Some of those requirements include having a license to carry a handgun, having no criminal history, being at least 21 years of age, taking the appropriate classes and paying the required fees.

Those wishing to take advantage of the open carry law must also have been a resident of Texas for at least six months, pass the required background check for both criminal and mental health histories, not have any chemical dependencies and be current on any tax and child support obligations. This means that if you are behind on your child support payments, you would not be able to carry a handgun under the new law.

This is just one example of how being behind on your child support payments can affect the different areas of your life. From having your wages garnished and your federal tax refund intercepted to losing your driver’s license and the right to openly carry a handgun, the child support enforcement penalties are both varied and significant. If you have questions about how to catch up on past-due child support or what to do if you know you are not going to be able to make your support payments, talking with a family law attorney may help.

Source: The Sacramento Bee, “Open Carry is the law of the land in Texas as of Jan. 1,” Anna M. Tinsley, Dec. 26, 2015