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Can I Stop Paying Child Support if I Can’t See My Kids?

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No, but there are steps you can take to hold your child’s other parent accountable for not letting you spend time with your kids. Nurturing your relationship with your child is vital to both of you, but you can’t simply withhold child support payments as they’re intended to help your child. Doing so would inevitably hurt your child.

To explore your legal options, the team at Conti Moore Law Divorce Lawyers, PLLC, in Orlando, Florida, has put together this brief discussion. This blog post will cover what child support is and how it is determined in the State of Florida, the possibility of receiving a judgment modification, the purpose of child support, and the consequences of not paying.

What Is Child Support and How Is It Determined in Florida?

In Florida, child support is the financial contribution that a non-custodial parent makes to help cover the costs of raising their child. Child support can be used for expenses such as food, shelter, clothing, and medical care. 

The amount of child support a parent is required to pay is determined by the Florida Child Support Guidelines. These guidelines take into account the income of both parents, the number of children being supported, and the amount of time each parent spends with the child. 

In cases where the parents have a shared parental responsibility arrangement, the guidelines also consider the parenting schedule and any childcare expenses. The child support guidelines aim to ensure that children receive the financial support they need to meet their basic needs.

Judgment Modifications and the Purpose of Child Support

In Florida, if you cannot see your children or if they are living with the other parent full time, you may be able to stop paying child support. But you cannot decide to do this on your own. Child support is ordered by the court, and the court has to be the one to make changes to what you pay. 

This is because the purpose of child support is to help cover the costs of raising a child, and if the child is not living with you, you are not incurring those costs. However, it is important to note that simply being unable to see your children is not enough to stop paying child support. 

The court will only consider halting payments if there is a demonstrated reason why visitation is not possible, such as the other parent moving out of state or refusing to allow you to see your children. 

Consequences of Not Paying Child Support

In Florida, if you do not pay child support, you may be subject to a number of consequences. For instance, your wages may be garnished, your tax refunds may be intercepted, or your driver’s license may be suspended. 

In addition, you may be subject to contempt of court proceedings and subject to fines or even jail time. If you are behind on child support payments, taking action as soon as possible is important to avoid these serious consequences. 

You may be able to negotiate a payment plan with the other parent or set up automatic payments to ensure that you do not fall behind again. Whatever you do, don’t simply ignore the problem, as it will only get worse over time.

Contact the Orlando Family and Divorce Law Firm of Conti Moore Law Divorce Lawyers, PLLC for Help Today

Your relationship with your child is important. If your child’s other parent isn’t letting you see your kids, you have legal options. But not paying child support is a bad idea. To help you figure out your legal options and how to move forward, contact an experienced Orlando child support attorney

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.

Conti Moore Law Divorce Lawyers, PLLC
815 N Magnolia Ave Suite 100
Orlando, FL 32803
United States

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