Many Californians are familiar with the popular TV show “16 and Pregnant” on MTV. The show depicts young teens facing the very adult challenges of parenting and documents some of the struggles that parents of any age often face; one of which is collecting child support.
As difficult as it can already be to establish child support, the parents who appear on the show – as well as many other people in similar situations – face the additional hurdle of being too young to have a steady source of income. However, any parent, whether they are 16 or 46, is expected to contribute to the well-being of their child.
One young mother on the show recently found herself in a very common situation. The father of her child had not been contributing financially or otherwise to the care of their baby, despite repeated requests outside of the courtroom. The mother ultimately decided to meet with an attorney to understand her options.
When a parent is delinquent in his or her responsibilities, it may be necessary to take legal action. Many people will try to resolve conflicts without bringing judges or court orders into the mix. For some people, this can be effective. However, for many other people, it is not.
Courts can order parents to contribute financially by garnishing wages, seizing assets, or threatening even ordering jail time for not complying with child support orders. These can be very effective – and enforceable – methods of prompting compliance.
Single parents can face enormous struggles when it comes to raising their child. The financial burden created by not receiving child support can make it even more difficult to provide a child with basic needs. When a non-custodial parent is uncooperative, it can be very beneficial to speak with an attorney who can help Sacramento parents enforce child support orders and collect the payments they deserve.
Source: MTV, “’16 And Pregnant’: The Lowdown On Child Support Enforcement,” Lauren Mann, April 24, 2014