How Can Child Support Payments Be Enforced in Tennessee?

Child support payments are fundamental in family law and allow a child to remain financially unaffected by their parents’ relationship, or lack thereof. If you are a custodial parent and your child’s other parent has not fulfilled their child support obligations, continue reading to discover how payments can be enforced. Work with a Memphis, Tennessee child support lawyer for skilled representation today.

Why is Child Support Enforcement Necessary?

Child support is one of the most important aspects of a separation or divorce between two individuals who share minor children. However, when the non-custodial parent shirks their duties by failing to pay, it can come at a great cost to both the custodial parent and the child.

Child support ensures that children receive the financial support they are entitled to from both parents, which is crucial for their well-being and growth. Enforcement programs are designed to hold parents accountable for their children and respect the system that protects a child from financial instability.

How Can Child Support Payments Be Enforced in TN?

The Child Support Services Program is a division of the Tennessee Department of Human Services. This program offers a variety of services for parents who are attempting to enforce their child support order and collect financial support for their child.

If your child’s other parent has failed to fulfill their financial obligation, you can contact the agency to discuss options for enforcement. Below are some of the ways that the Child Support Services Program can help enforce your child support order.

1. Wage garnishment: Income withholding is one of the most common ways to enforce child support. Courts can order an employer to automatically deduct child support payments from the non-custodial parent’s paycheck.
2. Asset seizure: If the parent has assets like cash or bank accounts but refuses to comply with the support order, the state can seize assets and property to put toward the debt owed by the non-custodial parent.
3. Tax refund offset: To ensure payments are made, Tennessee’s Department of Human Services can also intercept state and federal tax returns.
4. Passport denial: Using the IRS Treasury Offset Program, a non-custodial parent’s passport application can be denied based on unpaid child support.
5. License suspension: The state has the authority to revoke the parent’s driver’s licenses, professional licenses, recreational licenses, etc., as punishment until the arrears are paid in full.
6. Credit reporting: Any child support debt can be reported to credit reporting agencies, which will impact the parent’s credit score and ability to obtain housing, loans, credit cards, etc.
7. Liens: State law allows liens to be placed on a non-paying parent’s property, like the home or vehicle, in order to collect the overdue child support payments.
8. Contempt: A petition can be filed with the court to hold the parent in contempt for failing to comply with the court-ordered support obligation.

The state has many ways of helping a custodial parent enforce their child support order. To learn more, speak with an experienced attorney at Rice Law today.