Your former spouse may have no problem meeting their child support obligation. But they might refuse to pay it whatsoever. Countless requests and demands for payment may have led nowhere and you might not know how to make them provide court-ordered support. By understanding how Connecticut enforces the payment of child support, you can find a way to receive the resources you need for your children to survive and thrive.
Filing an enforcement action
When your former spouse fails to pay their child support obligation, you will need to pursue an enforcement action against them. This action requires that they repay any back support owed to you. And it forces them to follow your support order going forward.
There are numerous ways you can collect back support from your former spouse. Depending on your situation, a court may rule to:
- Garnish your former spouse’s wages
- Suspend your former spouse’s driver’s license, professional licenses or recreational licenses
- Suspend your former spouse’s passport or reject any passport application they have open
- Seize your former spouse’s federal or state tax refund
- Place a property lien on your former spouse’s residence
Filing a motion of contempt
You also have the option of filing a motion of contempt against your former spouse. This motion declares that they disobeyed your court-ordered support agreement by failing to meet their obligation. Contempt of court charges can come with serious penalties. Your former spouse may have to pay a fine, as well as your attorney fees and any back support owed. They could even face jail time depending on the circumstances of their nonpayment.
Convincing your former spouse to pay child support may feel like a futile endeavor. Yet, it is a necessity that ensures your children’s well-being. To protect them, you will want to exercise every option available – as needed – for receiving it.