We Need Stronger Child Support Laws

1962 Words4 Pages

The amount of child support cases in arrears would decline if a few things were changed, hopefully providing incentives to pay child support on time and regularly. There are also harsher consequences that could be carried out to prevent future mistakes. There are things being done, but is it enough? As it stands the noncustodial parent can face loss of visitation, probation, and even jail time for none payment of child support. By not enforcing court ordered child support and making examples out of those who are not in compliance, we are sending out a message that child support is more of an option than a legal obligation. Think about the ones who are really suffering here, the children involved.

There are many low-income families who are not receiving court ordered child support simply because they cannot afford the legal representation and court costs to fight for what they are legally entitled to. What should be done to start helping in these cases? The Office of the Attorney General Child Support Division is set up to help parents locate non-custodial parents who have not paid their child support. This is a free service; they also help provide the custodial parent with information regarding government programs including: Medicaid, TANIF, Food Stamps, and WIC. They can help you get health insurance if the non-custodial parent is not covering those expenses. The government help is easy to obtain only requiring information that would be easily obtained like proof of income, household members, SSN, expenses, and other personnel information. Once you have filed a case with them they will send paperwork to fill out, this will consist of; the noncustodial parents full legal name, last known address, last known telephone number,...

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...e best interest of their children. It’s not the amount of child support that is being paid that is important while you are doing the best you can for your children and supporting them the best way you can. Enforcing child support and having greater punishments are not just to make the nonpaying parents lives more difficult but to ensure a better life for their children.

Works Cited

(Texas Child Support Enforcement Resource Center, 2011) Retrieved from http://www.supportcollectors.com/resources_texas.php#stats

(Huffington Post UK, 2011) Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/09/02/child-support-dodgers-mos_n_946102.html#s348352&title=Ive_Become_A

(Texas' child support collection data presents varied picture, 2010) Retrieved from http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/legislature/stories/080310dntexnuchild.2b72be0.html

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