Judges Come Up with Unusual Penalties for Failure to Pay Child Support

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Pasadena family law attorneys have been watching with interest as judges across the United States seek unusual ways to get noncustodial parents to pay the child support they owe. On May 15, 35-year-old Asim Taylor was ordered by an Ohio court not to father any more children until he repaid the $96,000 in child support he owed for four children.

The idea of a judge ordering a man to avoid fathering children may sound absurd, but this is not the first case of this type. In 2013, 28-year-old John Butler was ordered by a Wisconsin judge to avoid fathering any more children until he repaid $23,000 in child support debt. In 2012, a Wisconsin judge ordered 44-year-old Corey Curtis to stop having children after he fathered nine children with six women and accumulated $90,000 in unpaid child support.

Although an order to stop having children is unlikely to become a standard penalty for failure to pay child support, the state of California does have several options with which to collect child support arrears. Income tax refunds can be seized, wages can be garnished, and liens can be placed upon any property the noncustodial parent owns. If needed, the court can also suspend drivers' licenses or professional licenses and prevent a noncustodial parent from obtaining a valid passport.

Child support payments can be reduced if the earnings of the noncustodial parent decline due to job loss, illness, or a reduction in work hours. However, the noncustodial parent must request that the support amount be reevaluated. The debt continues to accumulate with interest until the request for a reduction is approved, so it is vital to speak to an attorney as soon as possible if you are having trouble making your child support payments.

How Can We Help?

Please call our office at (626) 683-8113 or email us at info@PasadenaLawOffice.com if you are in need of assistance with a child support related issue. Our Pasadena family law firm can discuss your options and help you develop a strategy that best addresses your unique situation.

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