Parents who have a track record of missing child support payments will soon find that the State of Texas has augmented its toolkit in collecting funds. A new law, effective as of September 1, 2016, will give the state the ability to reject the renewal of vehicle registration for parents who are more than six payments behind on child support. Texas takes delinquent child support payments very seriously and this law is only the latest legal instrument in Texas’ arsenal.
In addition to denying vehicle registration, the state may also take measures including:
- Seizing financial assets such as tax refunds
- Placing liens on retirement and insurance accounts
- Suspending hunting, legal, medical licenses and permits
- Sentencing a parent to time in jail
According to The Office of the Attorney General, this new law may come to impact two thousand parents per month. However, the state does acknowledge that every parent will have a unique situation. While some will have knowingly stopped payments which could be made, others have experienced financial hardship, making further payment difficult. The state plans to notify all parents months in advance of their vehicle’s registration renewal date in an attempt to establish a uniquely tailored repayment plan.
While some anticipate that this plan will work efficiently as a deterrent for missing child support payments, the law is not without its critics. Texas is an exceptionally expansive state and many citizens are dependent on their driving privileges to complete daily activities. Even those living in densely populated cities may face additional hardships as a result of this law. Only time will tell how this new legislation will affect parents across the state.
Legal Representation for Child Support Disputes
Matters of child support and custody are often central points of contention among former partners and parents often find that issues can last long after a legal agreement has been reached. If you are currently involved in a dispute regarding the enforcement of an existing agreement and would like more information on how this new law may affect you, do not hesitate to contact the Adams Law Firm. OurKaty family law attorneys possess more than 35 years of experience and can provide one-on-one service to all who walk through our doors.
Call (281) 391-9237 and discover how our attorneys can help with your child support dispute.
