Child Support – Arrears FAQs

1. I have a significant amount of child support arrears. What should I do?

The first thing you should do is contact a Southern California child support attorney. He or she will help you file legal documents requesting that the amount of future child support be changed. You must file these documents because you cannot change the amount of arrearage already due, not even through bankruptcy. The best thing you can do is to reduce or eliminate the amount of child support owed in the future.

2. Because of child support arrears, my driver’s license has been suspended, but I need my license to get to work to be able to pay my child support obligation. What should I do?

Contact your Local Child Support Agency and try to negotiate the suspension of your license. If that doesn’t work, you can file a Notice of Motion for Judicial Review of License Denial with the court. A Southern California child support lawyer can greatly assist this process, so contact one to determine what other steps you can take and what documents you will need to present.

3. If the Department of Child Support Services freezes my bank account because of child support arrears, I won’t be able to pay my bills. What should I do?

First, contact an attorney. An attorney will help you so that $3500 of all accounts at a particular financial institution will be protected from seizure to satisfy the child support obligations. Also, there may be certain circumstances where you can file a Claim of Exemption up to the total of the amount of bank funds levied.

4. The wage assignment court order means that over 50% of my paycheck goes to child support. Is there any way to lower this amount?

There may be. Call your Local Child Support Agency and talk to them about reducing your monthly wage assignment. Otherwise, contact an attorney and he or she can help you file the proper forms with the court requesting a reduction of the monthly wage assignment.

If you or someone you know faces child support arrearage, you will need a skilled Southern California child support attorney to help you navigate these difficult legal waters. At Wallin & Klarich, we have helped people with child support arrearage for over 30 years. Call us today at (888) 749-7428. We will be there when you call.