Children are expensive. A person would have a difficult time finding someone in Georgia to disagree with that statement. Parents who are together and working may struggle to provide care, but this task becomes exceptionally more difficult if the parents divorce. During a divorce settlement, the court may mandate a child support agreement that requires the non-custodial parent to pay child support to the custodial parent. While the agreement mandates the payment, that does not guarantee that the payment will be made.
A recent case for non-payment of child support resulted in a sentence that included jail time. The father in the case had failed to pay the mandated amount for 14 years. He was ordered to pay the back amount that was owed as well as court costs and other fees. The amount owed was almost $30,000 dollars. The gentleman was also sentenced to five years in jail.
Many parents entitled to receive a child support payment do not receive the entire amount, and, in some cases, they receive nothing. This may be due to a parent’s unwillingness to pay. It may also be due to an inability to pay.
Child support agreements are frequently arrived at during divorce proceedings in Georgia. In some cases, parents may endeavor to come to an agreement themselves. A conversation with a knowledgeable family law attorney may be beneficial. An experienced lawyer can look at the situation, assess the financial circumstances and assist his or her client with the best possible outcome while also considering the best interest of the child.