Child support cases can be contentious. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for individuals engaged in a child support case to forego paying for child support and violate the terms of their child support order by doing so. Understanding how child support order enforcement works in California can help you take the right steps to ensure your child continues to receive the resources they need (and deserve) to thrive.
My Ex Refuses to Pay for Child Support—What Next?
Child support cases can be contentious. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for individuals engaged in a child support case to forego paying for child support and violate the terms of their child support order by doing so.
Understanding how child support order enforcement works in California can help you take the right steps to ensure your child continues to receive the resources they need (and deserve) to thrive.
How Does Child Support Enforcement Work in CA?
If your ex refuses to provide you with child support despite having an established child support order, you have a few different ways to try and enforce the child support order:
- File a case on your own through the California Courts' website;
- Hire an attorney to file a petition for child support enforcement, or;
- Work with your local child support agency to open and file a case for child support enforcement.
In California, the California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) handles child support enforcement.
Generally, working with an attorney will make the process easier than trying to handle child support enforcement by yourself. An attorney can help represent you in court and push for enforcement more effectively since they'll understand the court system. Having an experienced legal professional to handle the paperwork on your behalf also lifts a burden from your shoulders.
How Does the DCSS Enforce Child Support?
The DCSS has a few different options when it comes to enforcing child support:
- Hold a delinquent payor in contempt, which can result in jail time or fines until the payor provides the missing support;
- Sentence a delinquent payor to community service;
- Order a delinquent payor to repay any missed support and attorney's fees;
- Place a lien on a delinquent payor's property;
- Garnish a delinquent payor's bank accounts, pension plan, veteran's disability, income, or other sources of revenue to repay any missed support.
At Conner & Roberts, PLLC, we'll work with you to advocate for your parental rights and ensure your child receives the resources they need to thrive.
To schedule a consultation with our team, contact us online or via phone at (423) 299-4489.