Question: What happens if I don't make my child support payments as ordered?
Answer: This is called big trouble. The court order defines the amount and payment schedule. Failing to meet the schedule is seen as defying an order of the court and could land you in jail, result in a garnishment of your wages, intercepting your tax refund, seizing property, suspending your business license or driver's license or other serious consequences. If you become unemployed or have some other extenuating circumstance, it is important that you begin the process immediately to have your child support amount modified. In most cases, the law prohibits a judge from retroactively reducing a child support payment, even if a reduction is reasonable after the fact.
