The divorce process you experienced might have been exhausting, especially if it took a while to finally reach an agreement with your ex-spouse. However, challenges could still arise after your separation. Child support is one critical issue that you might experience post-divorce. It could get stressful when your ex-spouse fails to fulfill their obligation.
As the custodial parent, you have legal rights to receive child support payments from your ex-spouse. Child support covers essential expenses to raise your child, such as food, clothing, housing, education and healthcare. During your divorce process, the court would have determined the amount the non-custodial parent must provide. If they fail to pay child support, here are three things you can do to demand the support you and your child deserve.
Communicate with your ex
It might be challenging to communicate with an ex-spouse, especially when they are trying to escape from their responsibility. However, open communication and collaboration are essential in raising a child, even if you have already separated. Your ex-spouse might be facing challenges, like job loss, preventing them from paying child support. You can emphasize the importance of timely child support and other strategies that could work for the both of you.
Consider mediation
If direct communication does not work, you can try resolving your dispute through mediation. A mediator could facilitate discussions between you and your ex-spouse to reach an agreement on child support.
Seek legal assistance
If your ex-spouse continues to neglect their child support obligation, you can seek the assistance of a family law attorney to help with your next course of action. One typical legal action is filing a motion for contempt. It notifies the court that your ex-spouse is disregarding court-ordered child support. The court will then set up a payment arrangement for your ex-spouse. Otherwise, they can impose other consequences such as property seizure, wage garnishment, suspension of licenses, fines or even jail time.
Raising a child alone is physically, emotionally and financially demanding. It could be frustrating when your ex-spouse is neglecting their child support obligation. However, it would help if you stay persistent to demand the support your child deserves. Getting the necessary support from friends, family and legal professionals is valuable in providing a better life for your child.