What will a judge do if a mother gives up her full custody right to the father of her kids, wants nothing to do with them, refuses to pay child support, and is willing to quit her job to avoid paying child support?
Short and general (and thus not applicable in every jurisdiction) answer is that if mom:-+
refuses to pay; and
if mom has no job and thus no wages that the court can order garnished, no tax refunds that can be intercepted; and
no money in the bank that the court can order garnished; and
no property that can be attached and sold, so that the proceeds of sale go to you,
you just don’t get paid.
Many states (Utah included—this is the jurisdiction in which I practice divorce and family law) have laws that can subject a parent who fails or refuses to pay support to jail for “criminal nonsupport”. Sometimes, the prospect of going to prison for not paying child support motivates a parent who otherwise isn’t meeting his/her child support obligations to pay them.
Utah Code Section 76-7-201. Criminal nonsupport.
Utah Code Section 76-7-202. Orders for support in criminal nonsupport proceedings.
Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277