What Happens If You Don’t Pay Child Support In Maryland?

Right after a divorce, spouses with children will be asked to pay child support. Child support obligations are legally binding and, as such, can, and will, be enforced.

A parent who chooses to avoid fulfilling their child support obligation will face a number of different consequences. Being aware of these consequences makes it easy to understand why avoiding one’s child support obligations is a bad idea. 

What Happens If You Violate A Child Support Order? 

A parent who violates a child support order will face a number of consequences. The most notable consequences are as follows:

• A fine of no more than $100.
• Up to 3-years in prison.

Outside of those consequences, a parent who fails to pay child support will still need to fulfill their child support obligation. To ensure this obligation is met, the court may invoke the following consequences:

• A lien on that parent’s wages, ensuring that the money is collected.
• A probationary period for the parent who violated their child support order.
• A contempt of court charge; although, this is quite rare.
• A restriction on the non-paying parent’s passport, preventing it from being renewed.

No matter what, a parent’s child support obligation will be fulfilled. 

How Is Child Support Collected? 

To ensure that the terms of a child support order are fulfilled, the court may take a number of actions. Some of these actions are as follows:

• The required child support sum will be deducted from the non-paying parent’s wages.
• The required child support sum will be deducted from the non-paying parent’s tax refund.

Each one of these actions can, and will, be used to secure the child support that a parent is legally obligated to pay. These actions go hand-in-hand with the consequences of violating a child support order. 

When Does Not Paying Child Support Become A Federal Crime? 

A number of circumstances can lead to the act of not paying child support becoming a federal crime. Some of the most notable circumstances that can lead to this situation are as follows:

• The non-paying parent has moved to another state and has not paid child support.
• The non-paying parent has not paid any child support for a duration greater than one-year.
• The non-paying parent owes more than $5,000 in unpaid child support.

Each one of these circumstances can lead to the following consequences:

• A fine of no more than $250,000.
• Up to 2-years in prison.

The financial consequences of a federal non-payment of child support charges are greater than Maryland’s charges  and, as such, should always be avoided. 

Do You Need Legal Help? 

If you need legal assistance with a child support claim in Maryland, it can be greatly beneficial to contact a trusted Bel Air child support lawyer. The lawyers at Schlaich & Thompson, Chartered have more than 60 years of combined legal experience in criminal and family law, including violent crimes. If you need legal help, contact us today for an initial consultation.

Sources:

 law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2005/gfl/10-203.html

law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2019/family-law/title-10/subtitle-2/part-i/sect-10-204/

justice.gov/criminal-ceos/citizens-guide-us-federal-law-child-support-enforcemen