You and your spouse have reached the end of your divorce and everything is being finalized from child support agreements to separation of shared assets. During this time, you may be given a requirement to pay so much money each month towards the expenses of your children. So, what do you do if you do not want to pay these payments? Are there punishments in Minnesota? The answer is yes. Your decision to be proactive about paying child support and consistently in paying on time will keep you from getting into legal trouble.
What many people do not realize about refusing to pay child support is that their decision to go against the law can actually result in several inconvenient and frustrating consequences. According to the Office of Child Support Enforcement, authorities can enforce your requirement to make your payments by doing any of the following:
- Reporting your debts to your credit bureau.
- Denying your request to get a passport.
- Suspending or even revoking your privilege to drive.
- Putting a lien on your property.
- Withholding your income or federal tax returns.
- Intercepting international payments.
In order for a child support payment to be agreed upon, courts will first need to establish that you are the parent of the child. Next, they will create a child support order based on the needs of your children and the circumstances of your situation, and finally they will enforce it by employing any of the methods above if you are delinquent.
The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.