If you’re at a stage where child support collection is a problem, then it is time to explore alternative payment options. Gather your resources, and make the most use out of a child support calculator for calculating monthly payments. As a parent, you have the right to collect, and there is more than one way to go about it.
1. Communicate
The first step to collecting child support is communication between the parents. It’s easy to get distracted with the particulars when everyone around you has an opinion. If you haven’t sat down for a talk with your child’s parent, then a discussion about child support has not yet happened.
Texting, emailing and having a phone call about child support won’t do. The parents owe it to themselves to sit down as adults and discuss the future of their child. One good faith effort is all that it takes to get the ball rolling. So, before you move on to the other options, communicate. This step will have the biggest impact on your child’s future, and any potential child support payments.
2. Get A Child Support Order
When communication fails, a child support order is the first legal option. If you were unmarried when having a child, then it is necessary to establish fatherhood. This is usually the case in situations where a father is not acknowledging he is the biological father. Tests for determining the father are accurate, and speedy enough to not leave you burdened with bills.
Once the father is verified, follow your state’s guidelines for submitting a child support order. Part of the process is determining the amount a parent is responsible for. On top of regular child support, you can request medical support as additional compensation.
When the child support order isn’t honored, you can enforce child support through the original order. This includes wage garnishment, employee withholding, passport denial and even withholding tax refunds. A child support office has several laws at their back to enforce the original order, or to amend a new one.
3. Don’t Leave A Negative Paper Trail
If you’re in the process of trying to collect child support, then don’t leave a negative paper trail. Anything you say or do can be used against you in the court of law. Threats, even legal ones, will work against you in open court. Leave the strong wording to lawyers and other professionals that are familiar with your case.
It’s not uncommon for a parent to talk themselves out of a collecting child support by taking missteps with the other parent. Keep conversations cordial, and make sure that your digital messages follow the same tone. Don’t throw away all your hard work with securing child support by losing your temper.
Wrap Up
Before stress takes over, explore all of your options for collecting child support. Your role as a parent is more powerful than you realize when the right people are on your side. Every cent counts, and there is nothing wrong with ensuring that it’s delivered on time.
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