Resources to Assist with Child Support Payments

Divorce is trying in many different ways and areas. It can impact a family’s health, wellness, and stability, living situations, and creates financial pressure, to start the list. Ultimately, couples should work together amicably and respectfully to help minimize these negative ramifications. This includes post-divorce issues and abiding by the Orders of the Court and making child support payments. Post-divorce problems do not need to be even more complicated by a non-custodial parent who will not timely or appropriate pay their child support obligations. Not receiving child support payments may leave you feeling hopeless and without choices. Please know, some resources are available to you.

Understanding Child Support in Utah

In Utah, as with most, if not all, other states, not paying your child support obligations can lead to a revocation of your driver’s license, garnishment of wages, seizing of a tax return, and even jail time. If a non-custodial parent owes back child support, the custodial parent may file an enforcement action with the court. If the Judge orders delinquent payments and those payments are not adhered to, the non-custodial parent may be found in contempt of court.

Also, the Utah Department of Human Services has a specific division that assists individuals with collecting child support payments. This division is called the Office of Recovery Services or (ORS). The Office of Recovery Services has a helpful and interactive website that can answer many questions for you. Together, the Utah courts and the Offices of Recovery Services have multiple layers of tools at their disposal to assist with the recovery of delinquent child support payments. The resources can include the ability to:

  • File a lien against property or assets;
  • Suspension of a driver’s license;
  • Garnishment of wages;
  • Adverse reporting to credit bureaus;
  • Seizing of tax returns;
  • Working with other agencies to locate a parent if they have moved out of state; and
  • They are levying bank accounts.

Child support payments are intended to help meet a child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. No child should have to go without these basic needs, and a parent who is behind on child support must be faced with severe consequences, so they do not have to. If you have questions regarding collecting delinquent child support payments, contact our office today and speak with one of our experienced attorneys.

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