The vast majority of California parents who make child support payments have a sincere interest in providing for the care of their children. When a circumstance arises that prohibits them from making their monthly child support payment, many feel a great deal of shame and remorse. In some cases, the initial response is to address the financial hardship that led to the problem, and try to catch back up before the debt grows. In others, finances have become so strained that the non-custodial parent simply buries his or her head in the sand for a period of time.
While these responses are understandable, they are among the worst choices that can be made in such a scenario. The repercussions for failure to pay child support are serious, as one recent news piece demonstrates. Many may have heard of the recent arrest of a man proclaimed the nation’s ‘Most Wanted Deadbeat Parent.’ The 50-year-old father of two adult daughters was taken into federal custody following nearly 20 years of fugitive status.
The man was ordered to pay child support in 1995. In 2002, a federal arrest warrant was issued against him. A recent initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice led to his arrest in connection to as much as $1 million in unpaid child support. He is now facing federal prosecution in the matter, and is trying to work out a plea deal that would keep him out of jail.
While this case involves a parent who seemingly made a concerted effort not to meet his parental obligations, it also serves as an illustration of the weight that authorities give these issues. Child support is an important component of ensuring that children are properly cared for, and law enforcement and the courts take violations very seriously. For California parents who find themselves unable to make their monthly child support payments, a fast and well-structured legal response can lead to a reduction in one’s monthly payment amount and help avoid serious criminal repercussions.
Source: upi.com, “‘Most Wanted Deadbeat’ parent arrested,” Dec. 31, 2013