If you are going through a divorce and expect to owe child support, you should review the penalties associated with falling behind. Parents miss child support for many reasons, and the consequences can be severe.
In fact, if you do not pay child support on time, you might not be able to obtain or renew your passport.
When do parents lose passports?
A passport is a document that lets you travel to other countries. The government can stop you from getting a passport as a way to make sure you pay what you owe in child support. According to the Florida Department of Revenue, if you owe more than $2,500 in unpaid child support, the government can stop you from obtaining a passport. This is part of a program that helps make sure parents meet their child support responsibilities.
The inability to get a passport because of unpaid child support can cause problems if you need to travel for work, to see family or for other important reasons. It can also affect your job if you need to travel internationally.
How can parents protect their passports?
To avoid having your passport denied because of unpaid child support, it is important to keep up with your payments. Talk to the child support agency if you are having trouble paying, and try to work out a plan to catch up on what you owe. If your passport application becomes denied because of unpaid child support, take action right away. This will help you resolve the issue and be able to travel internationally.
By staying on top of your payments and reviewing strategies to address unpaid child support that you owe, you can avoid having your passport denied and keep your travel plans on track.