Interest on Child Support Payments

In some states delinquent child support payments have become such an issue that laws have been passed to charge interest and other surcharges on late payments. However, as the economy continues to lag and unemployment remains high, individuals who are already having difficulty making payments may soon find themselves in jail.

Back in 1996 the state of Michigan passed a law that would allow agencies collecting child support to charge interest on late payments. Yet this law did not give judges the ability to waive the fees for those individuals who were unable to make payments due to loss of unemployment. The law as it stands applies equally to those who refuse to make payments and those who simply cannot. The fear of jail time has become so severe in some cases that individuals are forced to file for bankruptcy in an attempt to discharge their other debts in order to make child support payments.

As these individuals who cannot even find employment fall farther behind on payments, the amount they owe grows as well, due to the interest charges.

Contact us to discuss your child support concerns with a Riverside family lawyer.