According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are about 68% of child support cases that have arrears owed in 2003, compared to 53% in 1999. This means that there are more non-custodial parents not being able to pay the assessed rates for their child support. Non-compliance to Child Support. In most cases, the non-custodial parent is the father and non-custodial parents who avoid or do not comply with their obligations for child support. These parents are termed deadbeat parents, hence the term deadbeat dads. It is a stereotype or prejudiced characterization, which fails to consider that non-custodial parents are, sometimes, simply unable to pay the assessed rates assigned due to certain circumstances. One study shows that in Illinois, 38% of non-custodial parents who do not pay child support claim that they do not have the money to pay; 23% said that their non-payment is an act of protest for the lack of visitation rights given to them; 14% complained that they have no proof of accountability that the money they give will be used solely for child expenses; 13% said they do not want anything to do with their children; and the remaining 12% denied parentage altogether. State Intervention Many states have taken to suspending an individuals licensesfor example, his or her business license, drivers license, or contractor licenseif there is a significant arrearage in child support payments or if the individual does not pay support consistently. This authority of license suspension, however, does not extend to professionals licensed by non-government agencies. In other states, like Texas, for example, non-custodial parents with accrued payments of up to 3 months are required to make court-ordered payments, which will be deducted directly from their wages. They may also have their income tax refunds, lottery winnings, or money due from the state intercepted by enforcement agencies for child support. Non-compliance of a non-custodial parent to make child support payments may also result in a prison sentence of up to 2 years through a judgment of past due child support. |
