New Jersey is one of the strictest states in the country when it comes to the payment of support. Judges here take a very dim view of parents who are in arrears in their child support obligations.
Fixed and Unfixed Arrearages
As per the child support attorney Edens, Chester, NJ support obligations are categorized into two types. Those are arrearages that are fixed and unfixed. Once a judge determines that a sum certain is owed, that becomes a fixed arrearage. Unfixed arrearages are amounts of child support that have yet to be determined by a judge.
Remedies for Arrearages
If a non-custodial parent fails to pay child support, an enforcement petition can be filed by the pareent who is owed this child support. A variety of remedies are available that might encourage a child support obligor to satisfy his or her arrearages. Those include but aren’t limited to the following:
- Wage Garnishments
- A driver’s license suspension.
- A medical, law or other professional license suspension.
- Suspension of a passport.
- Seizure of tax refunds
- Reporting arrearages to credit reporting agencies.
- A bench warrant and jail time.
Changed Circumstances
There are times when arrearages accrue that aren’t necessarily the fault of the obligor. Being laid off may be one of these situations. The now unemployed parent must immediately get a petition for modification and notice thereof on file. Otherwise, arrearages will continue to accrue at the present rate. If the court approves an adjustment, the new rate of child support will be deducted from the obligor’s unemployment benefits.
If you are burdened with child support issues, contact the child support attorneys in NJ at Edens Law Group. We are highly regarded by family law judges and attorneys across the State of New Jersey. We’ll be pleased to work through your child support issues with you.
