Failure to pay child support can result in significant consequences. A popular T.V. personality from "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta," Stevie J., was recently arrested in Georgia for allegedly failing to pay child support for over ten years. Stevie J., who is also a Grammy-award winning producer, was recently arrested for failure to pay over $1 million in child support. According to authorities, despite earning $27,000 a month, the T.V. personality and producer has failed to pay child support for his two children for over ten years. The criminal complaint notes that the children were born in 1997 and 1998 to Stevie J. and his ex-girlfriend. In 1999, he was ordered to pay $6,600 a month in child support which was later increased to $8,500 a month. Stevie will face criminal charges in New York, though he was arrested in Georgia.
There are a variety of potential penalties for failure to pay child support. Possible penalties for failure to pay child support can include wage garnishment; interception of tax refunds; property liens; business, occupational or driver's license suspension; the denial of a U.S. passport; or arrest and jail time. Because of the serious consequences for failure to pay child support, it is important to keep monthly child support payments current.
When a parent is experiencing difficulty making monthly child support payments, it is best to promptly seek a child support modification through the court. In certain circumstances, based on a significant change in circumstances of either the paying parent, the parent receiving child support or the child, child support may be modified. A significant change may include a job change, change in income or disability. It is important, however, in the meantime to keep making required child support payments.
Because of the serious consequences for failure to pay child support, it is important to not simply ignore the problem. While those seeking to collect child support that is owed may have legal options and resources, those seeking to modify a child support order may also have legal options and resources to consider.
Source: BET, "Stevie J Arrested, Owes Over $1 Million in Child Support," Latifah Muhammad, June 10, 2014