When the judge in Florida issued your child support order, they took into account your ability to pay it based on your and your spouse’s financial circumstance at that time as well as your child’s needs. Maybe you’ve been laid off, or your hours have been cut at work. Perhaps you have an unexpected medical expense that’s eating up all your extra cash. Whatever the reason, if you find yourself unable to meet your court-ordered commitments, it is important to take action quickly to avoid legal penalties that could make things difficult.
Contact the court
Immediately you find yourself in a situation that may hinder you from making the required payments, contact your local child support office and explain the issue. They may be able to modify your child support order based on your new financial circumstances.
If you cannot afford the modified child support payments, you may be able to request a hardship waiver from the court. This waiver would allow you to temporarily stop making child support payments until your financial situation improves.
Other options
If you are still struggling to make ends meet, you may want to consider filing for bankruptcy. This may help you get relief from some of your other debts, freeing up more money to put towards your child support payments. However, it is important to be aware that bankruptcy may have long-lasting effects on your credit and finances, and it takes time to process.
No matter what situation you find yourself in, it’s important to take action quickly if you cannot afford your child support payments. Do not simply stop making payments without first contacting the child support office or the court. If you do this, you may be held in contempt of court and could face serious legal penalties, including wage garnishment, loss of your driver’s license or even jail time.