Child custody and child support can be two of the most stressful factors in the outcome of a divorce. Living up to child support commitments can place additional strain on an already stressful situation. The courts in Georgia are trying to alleviate some of that stress through the creation of what they call Parental Accountability Court.
Under this new program, a court employee works with parents who may be behind on their child support payments rather than jailing them for failure to pay. This help can consist of helping with job searches and ensuring that amounts owed in child support are paid. The assistance can last from 12 to 18 months and is intended to attempt to reduce the number of parents serving jail time for failure to pay child support commitments.
Child welfare is usually first and foremost in a parent’s mind. Failure to pay child support is sometimes simply the result of a parent’s inability to pay. This program seeks to help alleviate that situation through finding gainful employment for struggling parents. The judge in charge of the program is working with employers and other stakeholders to attempt to ensure the success of the program. It is in everyone’s best interest that this program be successful.
A parent in Georgia who is facing difficulties meeting a child support obligation may benefit from a confidential conversation with a knowledgeable family law attorney. An experienced attorney may be familiar with aspects of the laws concerning child support as those laws currently exist in Georgia. A family law attorney may be able to assist a parent in finding ways to meet his or her child support obligation.
Source: timesfreepress.com, “Parental Accountability Court underscores new approach to child support in Northwest Georgia”, April 27, 2018