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Harris County parents ordered to pay child support falling behind

On Behalf of | Oct 3, 2012 | Family Law

Divorce can leave exes bitter. However, bitter feeling should never affect blameless parties in a divorce — children. Even if the parent is not the custodial parent, this does not mean that the relationship with the child has been terminated. Often, a court will order the non-custodial parent to pay child support. In cases where an angry ex refuses to pay child support, they are enacting more harm against their child than they are against their ex-spouse.

For a variety of reasons — anger, economic down turn, fluctuating pay — an alarming number of Texas parents are behind on child support. In Harris County, Texas, of the population of parents ordered to pay child support, 42 percent are behind. Across the state as a whole, 460,000 parents are behind on child support payments by varying amounts.

While the numbers are starting to decrease for their highest rate in 2009, there is an estimated $11 billion of unaccounted for child support payments across Texas. This isn’t $11 billion that would fund the receiving-parent’s shopping sprees, this is funding that would have worked toward providing for a child. Health care, schooling, food and housing costs can all be negatively impacted when a parent neglects their child support obligations.

The children of Texas are the future of our state, it is important that we provided them with all the opportunity that they need and deserve. A divorce from a spouse does not equate a divorce from the child.

Source: Houston Chronicle, “Texas parents owe nearly $11 billion in child support,” Yang Wang Oct. 1, 2012

  • Our firm has experience handling issues relating to divorce. To learn more, please visit our Houston divorce page.

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