Enforcing Child Support Payments In Virginia
Raising a child is expensive. Between food, clothing, and other costs, by the time they are eighteen, you will have easily spent six figures. Doing this is difficult on two incomes, let alone one. If you are divorced or a single parent in Virginia, our Loudoun County child support attorney explains why it is important to get court-ordered support and your rights in making sure it is enforced.
Getting A Child Support Order In Loudoun County
As with everything, the cost of raising children today is expensive. According to the Institute for Family Studies, the average parent can expect to spend close to $500,000 or more by the time their child becomes an adult. If you are a divorced or single parent, you may be wondering how you will afford it.
It often takes two incomes to raise children today. If you and your child do not live with the other parent, you have the right to request court-ordered child support. This is automatically addressed as part of divorce proceedings and frequently in the aftermath of paternity proceedings. If you currently do not have an order in place, our Loudoun County child support attorney can help you obtain one.
There are specific guidelines under the Virginia Code that judges rely on in these cases, but other factors that influence the amount of child support you may be entitled to include:
- The amount of time the child spends in each parent’s home;
- Each parent’s total income, property, and assets;
- The child’s overall expenses, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care;
- Any special needs, such as braces, tutoring, or money for team sports, that the child may have.
Enforcing a Loudoun County Child Support Order
If you are a divorced or single parent, you may be tempted to negotiate child support payments out of court. This is usually a bad idea. In addition to not getting the total amount you and your child are entitled to, there are few legal options in terms of enforcement efforts.
Once a child support order is issued through the Loudoun County Family Court, the other party is required to pay. If they file to do so, they could be charged with contempt. This could result in fines, additional court costs, and a potential jail sentence. If they still fail to pay or catch up with arrears, they could be subject to enforcement actions through the Virginia Department of Social Services and the Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE). These include:
- Wage garnishment;
- Asset seizure, including money in checking or savings accounts;
- Seizure of government benefits and tax refunds;
- Property liens;
- Suspension of their driver’s license privileges.
Get Our Virginia Child Support Attorney On Our Side
Child support plays a vital role in providing for your child. Schwartz Kalina, PLLC. helps you get the total amount you are entitled to in a court order. To get our legal team on your side, call or contact us online and request a consultation with our Virginia family attorney today.
Sources:
ifstudies.org/blog/the-true-cost-of-raising-a-child
lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title20/chapter6/section20-108.2/
dss.virginia.gov/family/dcse/
