Texas parents who receive child support payments rely heavily on this income, according to data from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Most of the recipients of child support are mothers, and the payments make up an average of around 39 percent of their incomes. Child support payments are also responsible for a 25 percent reduction in the poverty rate of single mothers.
Despite the positive impact that court-ordered child support payments make on a household, many single-parent households do not receive what they are owed. In 2013, DHHS opened almost 16 million cases in an attempt to collect unpaid child support. Although 60 percent of these cases resulted in the delinquent amounts being collected, there were still several million children who did not receive child support from their noncustodial parent.
In Texas alone, noncustodial parents owe almost $11 billion in back child support payments. The Attorney General’s Office is responsible for opening up cases against nonpaying parents and attempting to enforce the obligation. To collect unpaid child support, the Attorney General’s Office must locate the noncustodial parent and establish that they are in fact the parent of the child who is not receiving support. When no payments are offered willingly, a noncustodial parent’s wages may be garnished.
A parent who is not receiving child support payments from their ex-spouse might want to contact a family law attorney. In addition to wage garnishment, there are a variety of other measures that can be taken to help ensure that the payments are made. These can include the forfeiture of professional licenses and the attachment of bank accounts.