When your ex stops paying child support, you may be worried about covering your child’s everyday needs. You may also feel frustrated that the other parent is ignoring a court order. However, how you respond can affect what happens next.
Florida law provides ways to enforce child support orders. Knowing what to do—and what not to do—can help you protect your rights and seek the support your child is owed.
What Should You Do if Your Ex Stops Paying Child Support?
Start by keeping clear records. Save payment records, bank statements, messages, and other information showing what was paid and what remains unpaid.
You should also review your current child support order. Make sure you understand how much your ex is required to pay and when payments are due.
If payments are missing, consider speaking with an Orlando child support attorney about enforcement options. An attorney can review the order, calculate the unpaid amount, and explain what steps may be available based on your circumstances.
What Shouldn’t You Do When Child Support Goes Unpaid?
It can be tempting to take matters into your own hands when your ex refuses to pay. However, certain actions may create additional legal problems.
Avoid:
- Threatening or harassing your ex
- Destroying or hiding important records
- Making informal changes to the support order
- Ignoring court notices or deadlines
- Using your child to pressure the other parent
- Assuming missed support payments automatically change your parenting plan
Instead, document the missed payments and use the legal process to address the problem.
Can You Stop Timesharing If Your Ex Doesn’t Pay Child Support?
You cannot refuse to honor a court-ordered timesharing schedule simply because the other parent has stopped paying child support. Under Florida law, child support and timesharing obligations are addressed separately.
Taking matters into your own hands could lead to another dispute and may violate an existing court order. If you have concerns about your child’s safety or believe your parenting plan should be changed, speak with an attorney about the proper legal process.
Likewise, a parent must continue paying court-ordered child support even if the other parent refuses to honor the timesharing schedule. Court orders should be followed unless they are changed by the court.
How Can a Florida Child Support Order Be Enforced?
Florida provides several ways to address unpaid child support. The options available will depend on the circumstances of the case and the amount owed.
Possible enforcement measures may include:
- Income withholding
- Contempt proceedings
- Judgments for unpaid support
- Suspension of a driver’s license or vehicle registration in qualifying cases
- Suspension or denial of certain professional licenses
- Other court-ordered enforcement measures
Some consequences require specific procedures and conditions before they can be imposed. An attorney can explain which enforcement methods may apply to your situation and help you take the appropriate steps.
What If Your Ex Says They Can’t Afford Child Support?
A parent should not simply reduce or stop court-ordered child support because their financial circumstances have changed. Instead, they may need to ask the court to modify the existing order. In some circumstances, a modification may be made retroactive to the filing date of the modification action.
If your ex claims they cannot afford the current payments, the court can address whether modification is appropriate. You do not have to agree to an informal change that conflicts with the existing order.
Why Is It Important to Act When Payments Are Missed?
Unpaid child support can grow over time and place additional financial pressure on the parent caring for the child. Addressing the issue early may make it easier to document missed payments and understand your enforcement options.
Keep records of each payment received and each missed payment. Avoid relying only on verbal promises that your ex will catch up later.
You may have several options for enforcing an existing order, but the right approach depends on the facts. Legal advice can help you determine how to proceed while following Florida’s child support laws.
Contact the Orlando Child Support Law Firm of Conti Moore Law Divorce Lawyers, PLLC, for Help Today
If your ex has stopped paying court-ordered child support, you do not have to handle the enforcement process on your own. Conti Moore Law Divorce Lawyers, PLLC can review your current order, explain your options, and help you determine what steps to take.
For more information, contact our experienced Orlando divorce lawyers at Conti Moore Law Divorce Lawyers, PLLC, by calling (407) 831-0203 to schedule a free consultation.
We serve all through Orange County and its surrounding areas. Visit our office at:
Conti Moore Law Divorce Lawyers, PLLC
815 N Magnolia Ave Suite 100
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 831-0203
