Although deadbeat dads get a bad wrap, many moms fail to take care of their child support obligations when fathers are awarded custody. Deadbeat moms who do not fulfill their obligations are subject to the same penalties as fathers who do not pay child support.
Statistics on Deadbeat Moms
Deadbeat moms may be more common than deadbeat dads. Only 57 percent of mothers in one set of census figures who were required to pay child support were actually current on their obligation. This left approximately 289,000 mothers who failed to pay their obligation. Using the same census figures, about 68 percent of fathers pay their obligation. Another statistical skew is that men are generally required to pay higher amounts of child support than women.
Deadbeat Parent Page
Deadbeat moms and dads can be listed on a state website that features their names and pictures if they fail to meet their child support obligations. The website can feature parents who owe $5,000 or more in past-due support.
Consequences of Not Paying Child Support
In addition to having their pictures plastered online, deadbeat moms who do not pay child support face a number of other consequences. Some of the potential consequences include:
Income Withholding
If the original child support order did not include a provision related to income withholding, a family law attorney can petition for one. This is an order that instructs the parent’s employer to withhold the child support obligation directly from the parent’s paycheck. Employers are legally required to comply with such orders.
Interception of Funds
State and federal income tax refunds can be intercepted. Additionally, lottery winnings can be intercepted so that any outstanding child support obligation is first paid.
Bank Account Garnishment
Deadbeat parents bank accounts can be garnished to recover a portion of the outstanding balance.
Property Lien
In some circumstances, a lien can be placed against a deadbeat parent’s property. If the parent sells the property, the lien will first have to be paid off.
Denial of a Passport
Parents who owe more than $2,500 in arrears can have their United States passport application denied or travel prohibited.
Criminal Prosecution
Deadbeat parents can be referred for criminal prosecution on the state or federal level, which carry significant penalties including jail time.
Loss of Driving Privileges
A court can also suspend a deadbeat mom’s driver’s license if a parent is at least 90 days behind on their court-ordered obligation.
