What happens if you fail to pay child support?

California Law (Family Code 6500) mandates that each parent has an obligation to support a minor child. This means that parents are required to provide for their children, whether or not they currently live with their children. Experienced family law attorneys will tell you that a court may make child support orders in any legal proceeding that involves dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or child custody.  It is important to remember that an order for child support can be made retroactive to the first date of filing of the request for child support.

How much will I have to pay?

Child support is determined by a state guideline formula that takes into account both parents income, timeshare with the child, custody, and other children in the house. Child support payments can be modified by the court at any time, so consult an attorney if you have recently lost your job or had a change in your family situation. You can also use the state’s guideline calculator to figure out if your obligation has changed.

http://www.childsup.ca.gov/resources/calculatechildsupport.aspx

What happens if I fail to pay?

The consequences of failing to pay a child support obligation can be dramatic, so it is important to be informed about the penalties.  Remember that if the court has made a child support order, you are likely required to pay the state who will then pay the other parent.  Any missing payments are considered arrears and the state keeps track of these payments and the interest (10%) that builds.
The Department of Child Support Services has wide latitude to enforce child support orders and can use any of the following methods: (1) suspension of state licensure including drivers licenses, State Bar, Department of Fish and Game, (2) bank levy, (3) garnishment of unemployment benefits, (4) interception of federal and state tax returns, (5) Pas sport holds (where the individual cannot apply for a passport renewal), (6) garnishment of State retirement benefits PERS, and last (7) a contempt proceeding can result in jail time. 

Can I really go to Jail?
Yes.  California law provides that intentional failure to provide for a child under the age of 18 is a misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of 1 year in the county jail and a $2000 fine. Pen C §270.
Typically, an individual who has failed to make child support payments will be arrested and arraigned if they continuously fail to make payments. Failure to follow a court order including a child support order is considered contempt and a court can order jail time for numerous counts of contempt.
If you have a child support order and have failed to make payments, contact a family law attorney, you can contact me at amanda@gordonfamilylaw.com for help.  Even if you have lost your ability to pay, Attorneys are able to work with you to understand your rights and obligations. 

My child’s mother does not follow our visitation schedule, how can I get her to comply?

Experienced San Francisco Bay Area family law attorneys will tell their clients that child custody and visitation can always be modified by either parent until the child’s 18th birthday.  

I frequently consult with clients who have court ordered parenting schedules that are no longer followed by the primary parent. Sometimes this happens because my client cannot afford to pay support or they have a new work schedule. However, failure to pay support is not actually a legally sufficient reason to restrict custody and visitation. 

A common complaint is that the primary parent fails to make the child available for the agreed upon court ordered schedule and that the non-primary parent is prevented from seeing the child. If this sounds like your situation, where the custodial parent has stopped complying with a custody schedule, it may be necessary to seek a Contempt order.

As a practical matter, a motion for contempt for custody and visitation is a last resort and may prevent reasonable cooperation and may detrimentally affect the child. Thus, the decision to bring a contempt motion for visitation must be carefully considered and other methods such as FCS mediation and co-parent counseling should be exhausted before a motion for contempt is filed.

Contempt is available to enforce orders governing custody, visitation, and residence of a child. California case law states that contempt is a remedy available against a parent who does not comply with a court-ordered parenting plan regarding custody and visitation.  Additionally, Custody and visitation orders issues by a foreign court are also enforceable by contempt.  Contempt may even be available when a parent fails to follow the spirit of co-parenting. 
In one case, the court had made an initial court order that Mom was not to interfere with Dad’s custodial time. However, Mom attempted to alienate the children by her actions, words and demeanor and she continued to interfere with Dad’s custodial time and was ultimately found in contempt. 

The failure to follow custody and visitation comes up most frequently in the context of teenagers.  

I frequently get questions by parents of teenagers whose teenagers refuse to see the non-primary parent. Unfortunately, these cases may not be good candidates for Contempt because if a parent shows that they do not have sufficient control of the teenager, then there can be no contempt finding if the child refuses to participate in the ordered visitation.  For example, a custodial parent may not be held in contempt for violation of a visitation order based on the failure of an unwilling child to visit unless you show proof that the parent is able to compel visitation. 
In the context of child custody and visitation, in order to successfully pursue a contempt charge, you must describe the details of the violations that give rise to the charge of contempt. These are frequently documented in emails, text messages, and phone logs. You can prepare for a contempt hearing by describing how the order was violated and when it was violated.  To learn more about filing Contempt, contact Gordon Family Law at (415) 326 – 4148.

Want to learn more, including how to file for Contempt?

Check Out:

What to do if your ex does not pay support or follow visitation: how to file for Contempt.

Is your ex-spouse a "deadbeat"?

My ex spouse stopped my spousal support payments, what are my options.

Modifying Custody Orders

What can you do if you are no longer happy with the custody and visitation schedule that you have with your ex spouse? Are you seeking sole custody, or a revision to your joint custody schedule?   

First, either parent may petition to modify or terminate joint custody. [FC §3087.] This petition usually takes the form of a Request for Order, however, it can be presented to court as an ex parte application or a noticed motion.  

Next, Parties must prepare Judicial Council forms of custody or visitation orders for a Judge's signature.  
•    The findings and order after hearing [see form FL-340],
•    A child custody and visitation order attachment [see form FL-341],
•    A supervised visitation order attachment [see form FL-341(A)],
•    A child abduction prevention order attachment [see form FL-341(B)],
•    A children's holiday schedule attachment [see form FL-341(C)],
•    An attachment for additional provisions for physical custody [see form FL-341(D)], and
•    A joint legal custody attachment [see form FL-341(E)].
Check your local rules for specifics to see whether you will need to make an appointment with the Court appointed mediator.

A Judge will review the request for a change and will make a modification or termination if the Judge believes that modification is in the child's best interest.  

Below is some of the basic vocabulary so you can understand what you can ask to change.

Joint legal custody: Both parents share the right and responsibility to make decisions relating to the child's health, education, and welfare. [FC §3003.] Either parent acting alone may exercise legal control over the child in a joint legal custody arrangement unless your order requires joint decisions. If you require joint decisions, the Judge’s order must specify the circumstances when mutual consent is required and the consequences of failing to obtain such consent. [FC §3083.]
 

Joint physical custody: Each parent has significant periods of physical custody. [FC §3004.] An equal division of the child's time is not required. [Marriage of Birnbaum (1989) 211 CA3d 1508, 1515-1516.] Some judges consider any timeshare over 30 percent to be joint physical custody. The order must specify the rights of each parent to physical control in sufficient detail to enable a parent deprived of that control to implement anti–child snatching and kidnapping laws. [FC §3084.]
 

Joint legal and physical custody: Parents share joint legal and joint physical custody. [FC §3002.] If both parents agree to joint custody, there is a presumption that it is in the child's best interest. [FC §3080.] Otherwise, with exceptions for domestic violence and abuse, it is generally within the judge's discretion whether to award joint custody. [FC §3081.] On request of a party, the Judge must state the reasons for granting or denying a request for joint custody. [FC §3082.] In ordering joint physical or joint legal custody, the Judge may specify one parent as the primary caretaker and one home as the primary home for purposes of determining eligibility for public assistance. [FC §3086.]

For a Judge to change a custody and visitation order, they must find a significant change in circumstances.  This means that subsequently occurring material facts and circumstances make a change essential or expedient for the child's welfare. The changed circumstance rule assumes that the prior final order was in the child's best interest based on circumstances as they existed at that time. The party seeking the change has the burden of demonstrating a sufficient change in circumstances. 

This means that if you want to change or modify your existing order, there must be a significant change of circumstances, such as increase of time available for child care, change of job, or change of the other parent’s status and ability to care for the children.

If you are concerned that the Court may not grant your requests, it is best to consult with an attorney to evaluate your case.  

You can contact me at Amanda@gordonfamilylaw.com for more information.

My spouse liquidated our account during our divorce, can he do that?

Experienced California divorce attorneys will educate you about automatic temporary restraining orders or ATROs. In California, on commencement of every divorce action, certain automatic temporary restraining orders are entered. These orders prevent spouses from the following:

Removing any minor child of the parties from California or applying for a new or replacement passport for such a minor child without the other party’s prior written consent or a court order. Fam C §2040(a)(1).

Cashing, borrowing against, canceling, transferring, disposing of, or changing the beneficiaries of any insurance or other coverage, including life, health, automobile, and disability, held for the benefit of the parties or their minor children. Fam C §2040(a)(3). 

Transferring, encumbering, hypothecating, concealing, disposing of, or changing the beneficiaries of any real or personal property (whether community, quasi-community, or separate) without a court order or the other party’s written consent, except in the usual course of business or for the necessities of life. Fam C §2040(a)(3).  

Creating or modifying a nonprobate transfer in a manner that affects the disposition of property subject to the transfer, without the other party’s written consent or a court order. Fam C §2040(a)(4). 

During the pendency of the divorce, meaning once you have filed but before the divorce judgment is entered, a spouse must abide by these rules or be subject to consequences. In answer to question posed as to whether a spouse can liquidate accounts, the answer is probably not. 

You can contact me at Amanda@gordonfamilylaw.com for more information.

Isn't there any easy way to divorce in California?

Many California divorce clients ask if there is an easier way to get a divorce. And the answer is that it depends. Some individuals meet the requirements for a Summary dissolution. The barebones requirements are that you have been married less than 5 years without children and have limited debts and assets.  

The Self Help Section of the California Court's provide the following checklist (See the Courts Page for more info):

DO YOU QUALIFY FOR A SUMMARY DISSOLUTION?

To qualify for a summary dissolution of your marriage you must meet ALL of the following requirements.

You and your spouse:

• Have been married for less than 5 years (from the date you got married to the date you separated);

• Have no children together born or adopted before or during the marriage (and you are not expecting a new child now);

• Do not own any part of land or buildings;

• Do not rent any land or buildings (except for where you now live, as long as you do not have a 1-year lease or option to buy);

• Do not owe more than $6,000 for debts acquired since the date you got married (called "community obligations");

  • Do not count car loans.

  • Click for a worksheet to help you figure your debt.

  • Click for a sample with instructions for the worksheet.

• Have less than $40,000 worth of property acquired during the marriage (called "community property");

  • Do not count your cars.

  • Click for a worksheet to help you figure the value of your property.

  • Click for a sample with instructions for the worksheet.

• Do not have separate property worth more than $40,000;

  • Do not count your cars.

  • Click here for a worksheet to help you figure the value of your separate property.

  • Click for a sample with instructions for the worksheet.

• Agree that neither spouse will ever get spousal support; AND

• Have signed an agreement that divides your property (including your cars) and debts.

  • Click to see a fillable property agreement.

  • Click to see a sample agreement with instructions.

In addition, if you are married, either you or your spouse must have lived in California for the last 6 months and in the county where you file for summary dissolution for the last 3 months. If you do not meet the residency requirement, you can still file for a legal separation but you have to go through the regular legal separation process, or wait until you meet the residency requirements for a divorce.

See http://www.courts.ca.gov/1241.htm for more info.