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A Seattle child support enforcement lawyer could help you deal with nonpayment issues involving your co-parent. Despite having a court order in your favor, it is not always easy to secure the support payments you are entitled to.
At Twyford Law Office, our experienced child support attorneys can help you through every stage of a divorce, including when the other parent refuses to comply with a court order. The right way to approach these issues can vary, and our team knows how to work with you to achieve the best possible outcome.
One of the ways our firm could help is by working with the other party and their legal counsel to resolve child support concerns amicably. Some missed payments are the result of a misunderstanding, while others are related to issues that can be settled through tactful discussions.
The benefit of reaching a peaceful resolution is that it is often the fastest way to secure what is owed. These negotiations are typically less costly and time-consuming than litigation in family court. Let our Seattle attorneys attempt to resolve your child support nonpayment issue before formal enforcement efforts become necessary.
Another method that some parties use to ensure compliance with court orders is to handle payments through the Division of Child Support (DCS). While it is not mandatory, parents can choose to have all payments go through DCS as a matter of convenience. Not only does the state accept, account for, and distribute these payments, but it also offers enforcement options following nonpayment.
These services do not cost anything for the parent receiving child support in Seattle, and DCS will move forward with enforcement efforts automatically without waiting for a lawyer to intervene. One of their most useful tools is the ability to garnish wages. This occurs when the other parent’s employer is sent an Income Withholding for Support Order.
Your Seattle attorney could also pursue a motion for contempt in order to enforce the child support agreement. This is a serious matter, as the courts have the power to jail the other parent in some situations.
To start, there must be a valid child support order in place. If the agreement is an informal one, the courts will not step in and enforce it. The other parent must also have had notice of the order’s existence. This is usually not an issue, as all parties must be given notice of child support proceedings before they can move forward.
The next step is to show that the other parent missed some of the payments they owed. There is no grace period under the law, meaning that your lawyer could act after a single missed payment, and there is no requirement to show that the other parent is able to pay. There are options for seeking relief when the paying parent is unable to meet their obligation, but it is up to them to petition the court instead of simply not making the required payments.
If your co-parent has failed to make court-ordered child support payments, you have the right to act immediately. The sooner you talk to our team at Twyford Law Office, the faster we can get to work on your behalf.
Let a Seattle child support enforcement lawyer evaluate your case and advise you of your options. There are different paths available, and our team is ready to help in any way we can. Call right away to discuss your options during a private consultation.
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