Divorce can be contentious. Add child support to the mix in Georgia and the stress and anxiety rise incrementally. Once child support amounts are settled, they need to be paid. If a parent disappears, is presumed dead, and then reappears, what is the implication for the unpaid support? This was the question in a recent case where just such a situation arose.
The father in the case left his family and moved to Florida. He stole an identity and essentially vanished and was even presumed dead. The case was considered bizarre and even got national television coverage. The gentleman was eventually caught and charged with fraudulent use of an identity. The woman he abandoned sought back child support payments dating to the mid-1990s, when the man disappeared.
The case was recently decided by a court in Indiana. The mother and her children were awarded nearly $2 million, including interest owed on the unpaid amount. The defendant in the case may also have to pay accumulated legal fees, and a hearing on that issue has yet to be held.
Paying child support can be a daunting task and, in some instances, failure to pay may be the result of an inability to pay. Child support orders in Georgia can be revisited. For example, if the parent’s financial situation changes, the agreement may be modified to allow for the change. A person facing such a situation may benefit from a confidential conversation with a knowledgeable family law attorney. An experienced attorney can offer advice about the available options in view of the client’s current situation.
Source: journalgazette.net, “Nearly $2 million awarded in back-child-support case”, Matthew Leblanc, May 18, 2018