As most parents know, it is expensive to raise a child. As a result, it is necessary for both parents to meet their moral and legal obligations to their children. Failure to do so could not only have serious legal consequences but could also damage the parent-child relationship. Police in Pennsylvania say that have recently made several arrests as a result of parents who allegedly failed to pay child support.
A representative for the police claims that deputies worked in two teams and utilized K9s. They conducted an overnight sweep of parents accused of failing to make child support payments. The sweep began at 1 a.m. one morning in early February.
A representative claims that 11 arrests were made. The alleged arrearages impacted 16 children. The amount each parent owed ranged from just under $1,000 to approximately $40,000. The combined amount owed is over $126,000.
As demonstrated by this recent Pennsylvania sweep, failure to make court ordered child support payments could have serious consequences. In addition to jail time, many parents face wage garnishment and license suspension among other possible outcomes. More important is the potential impact on the child. Because there are often many parents who want to meet their obligations to their children but are unable to due to an unexpected change in circumstances, there are legal options available. Judges will often take into account circumstances such as the loss of a job or an illness when considering a request to modify support; by addressing such concerns with the court, a parent could not only avoid the consequences of failing to pay but could also preserve their relationship with their children.
Source: Lower Gwynedd-Ambler-Whitpain, Pa. Patch, “Ambler Man Arrested For Owing $21K In Child Support“, Justin Heinze, Feb. 3, 2016
