From the perspective of a non-custodial parent paying child support, it often feels like a continuing injustice to be relegated to barely seeing his or her children full-time while carrying the financial burden of providing regular monthly support to the children until their age of majority. The child support order determines who will pay for a child’s basic support and medical care, and normally it is the non-custodial parent who must make the regularly-scheduled payments to the custodial parent.

In addition, if the non-custodial parent does not make the regularly-scheduled payments, the custodial parent has the right to file an enforcement action with the court, asking the judge to force the delinquent parent to make the payments. The failure to follow a child-support order can also result in the non-custodial parent being held in contempt of court and fined or sent to jail, with possible criminal charges brought if the nonpayment extends.

Child Support Enforcement Methods
In Virginia, one method for enforcement of a child support order is provided though the Virginia Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE), which can result in:
• The withholding the non-custodial parent’s income from his or her paycheck, social security, workers’ compensation, unemployment payments or veterans disability compensation
• The placing a lien(s) on the delinquent parent’s real estate or personal property
• The garnishment/seizure of the non-custodial parent’s tax refunds (state and federal)
• The suspension of the non-custodial parent’s driving license
• The denial of a passport
• The reporting of the delinquency, if a judgment is entered against the non-custodial parent, to credit bureaus
• The court’s entry of orders of contempt (civil or criminal), which can possibly lead to a jail sentence; and
• The use of a bench warrant for arrest, including extradition from another state if appropriate.

In Virginia, upon entry of a finding of contempt, interest will also added to any past-due payments at the rate of 6% per annum. Another method of enforcement is for the custodial parent to hire an attorney to immediately file for a hearing to determine if the non-custodial parent is in contempt, which can result in an award of the custodial parent’s legal fees to be paid by the non-custodial parent on top of the child support arrears already owed by the non-custodial parent.

If the issue goes before the judge and the court determines that the non-custodial parent was capable of paying, that parent can be held in contempt of court, with the above-listed penalties. In addition, this parent could be charged with a misdemeanor or felony, and face jail time.

If the non-custodial parent moves out of Virginia, the child support order can still be enforced through the Uniform Federal Family Support Act in any other U.S. state. For missing parents, the federal government utilizes a Federal Parent Locator Service.

Can’t Afford the Child Support Payments?
If the non-custodial parent is truly struggling, or unable, to make child support payments, he or she should contact an experienced family law attorney to determine what motions might be filed with the court to obtain a temporary reduction, suspension or modification of his or her current support payment, and to set a hearing to obtain a permanent order that may reduce monthly child support moving forward. If the non-custodial parent cannot afford to consult with or hire an attorney, he or she may file for a review with either DCSE or the court directly. If granted a modification, then any reduction (as mandated by Virginia statute) will be retroactive to the date of any court filing to seek modification.

Contact Your Family Law Attorney
If you have questions about Virginia’s child support laws, your local family attorney in Virginia, the Law Office of Patricia E. Tichenor, P.L.L.C., is there to help. We are conveniently located near Loudoun Hospital in Leesburg, Virginia to serve clients throughout Northern Virginia. Please contact attorneys Patricia Tichenor or Camellia Safi for advice.