On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Paternity/Child Support on Wednesday, January 29, 2020.
Missouri parents understand that it is important to do their best to fulfill court-ordered financial obligations to a child. Child support payments are a way to ensure that even in cases where both parents share the expenses involved with raising a child even if they maintain separate households. If a parent fails to make these payments, he or she can face legal penalties like fines and even jail time.
Recently, an unusual scenario has many Arizona residents wondering if such policies need updated provisions in unique cases. A woman divorced years ago, and she was ordered to make child support payments to the other parent for her two minor children. According to the family, she did her best, but after falling gravely ill and being unable to work, she fell behind on the payments. Her children are now adults, but the woman still has to pay off a back balance, often called arrears.
Unable to make the monthly payments, the woman was facing a jail sentence. In a strange twist, her daughter, one of the children for whom the payments were ordered, made the payments herself. When Missouri residents learned of the situation, many spoke out that it did not seem to make much sense for the woman to make a child support payment to herself to help her ailing mother avoid jail time.
When an Missouri parent needs to establish, modify or enforce a child support order, it might be a good idea to consult a professional. Contacting an attorney that has expert knowledge of the legal process can make a parent feel more confident when it comes time to face a court. An attorney can help a client explain his or her financial situation and work towards a judgement that may provide a payment scenario that may be more manageable under specific circumstances.
