At their discretion, judges may imprison the father for not paying child support. The Maryland Child Support Control Administration (CSEA) is responsible for enforcing state and federal laws regarding child support. This means that if a parent fails to meet their obligations, the CSEA has several compliance tools they can use to collect unpaid support. Section 10-203 of the Maryland Family Law Code sets out the laws and penalties for not keeping up with child support payments.
The CSEA is authorized to intercept federal income tax refunds, unemployment insurance amounts, and workers' compensation awards for overdue child support. If a custodial parent or the state needs to enforce a child support order, they can do so by collecting unpaid support and recovering it from tax refunds. If a parent is found to be in violation of their child support obligations, they may face criminal charges. It's important to note that non-payment of child support does not necessarily mean jail time.
The court will take into account any difficulties the paying parent may have in meeting their obligations. The attorneys at Schlaich & Thompson, Chartered in Bel Air, can provide legal assistance if needed. A good place to start looking for information is the frequently asked questions pages that link to the child support resources page on the Maryland Department of Human Resources website. This page provides information on how to apply for child support services, how to make payments, and how to dispute an order. The state of Maryland is entitled to collect unpaid alimony as reimbursement for the cash assistance it receives from the state. It's important for parents to understand their rights and responsibilities when it comes to paying child support.
