Child Support in Queens: How to Get Your Spouse to Pay Child Support

Being a single working parent is challenging enough. Finding childcare and juggling the roles of parenting while being the main breadwinner for your family can be immensely stressful for single parents. But when your former partner won’t pay child support, the challenge only increases.

According to U.S. News and World Report, one estimate suggests that as much as $108 billion in back payments were owed to parents who had sole custody of the children. If your former partner can’t pay child support and has no assets, it may feel like you have few options.

Despite this, there are still things you can do to encourage your spouse to pay child support. Here are some ideas.

1.      Speak to New York’s Human Resource Administration and see if your ex qualifies for the “Pay It Off Program.” New York City has invested a great deal of resources into helping non-custodial parents pay child support. According to the New York Post, in order to help parents pay child support, the city has invested resources in helping deadbeat parents find jobs. Collection rates for court-ordered child support can be quite low in some areas—as low as 42 percent. Under the HRA’s Pay It Off Program, parents who pay at least $2,500 of their child support debt will receive a matching donation from the program.

2.      Don’t deny visiting rights. Family law attorneys like Charles Zolot with zolotlaw.com remind custodial parents that visitation rights and child support collections are two independent issues. If the non-custodial parent is involved in your child’s life, he or she may be more willing to pay child support when the money is there.

3.      Accept some payment rather than all of it. If your spouse can’t pay all the child support owed, every little bit counts. Plus, you and your ex may be able to take advantage of New York’s Pay It Off Program.

4.      If your spouse refuses to pay, and can afford it, it might be time to get a child support lawyer and involve the courts. Individuals who refuse to pay child support face serious penalties. Parents can lose professional licenses, face wage garnishment, or have their tax refund collected. If your spouse can pay and refuses, the law may be able to take action to ensure that your child gets the money he or she deserves.

While many parents who are entitled to child support payments don’t receive them either due to the other parent’s refusal or unwillingness to pay, there are many measures you can take to protect your rights. A family law attorney in Queens, NY like The Law Offices of Charles Zolot can also help.