Failing to pay child support can lead to a number of legal problems. And now, a new website launched by the Office of Inspector General is working to try and catch those parents who have skipped out on making those payments.
According to the federal agency, which is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, the purpose of the website is to get the public involved in helping to track down those parents who are seriously behind on child support by posting information about them, and photos. As of now, there are photos of parents who owe, and also those who have already been caught.
Of those who have already been caught, one parent owed more than $160,000, and the other owed approximately $116,000.
In general, when it comes to child support, individual states normally have jurisdiction over those who owe. However, the federal government can get involved in cases where the noncustodial parent owes more than $5,000 and have children living in another state. Additionally, the federal government can also become involved when a parent has not made a payment in more than a year.
Because of the severity of not making your child support payments, it is important that you take action as soon as you realize there is a reason why you can no longer make those payments.
In Missouri, these modifications can at times be granted in cases where there is a significant change to your income: like from being laid off or taking a pay cut. However, do not just stop making payments. Rather, contact a Missouri family law attorney to see if a modification could be an option for you.
Source: Office of Inspector General, “OIG Launches Child Support Enforcement Web Page: Introduces ‘most wanted’ list of deadbeat parents,” Jan. 17, 2012
