James R. Balmforth: Child Support Lawyers

For people who are unable to pay child support, there may be diverse issues to consider. As a Child Support Lawyer, I’ve noticed that sometimes, people refuse to pay child support, which can lead to harsh consequences such as time behind bars and fines. In Salt Lake City, and all over Utah, those who are unhappy about their child support obligations may want to look into modifying their child support order or other solutions. On the other hand, some people simply cannot afford to make their child support payments as they are supposed to. Regardless of the reasons why parents fall behind, the consequences for everyone involved can be staggering.

AUTHORITIES APPREHEND DOZENS OVER BACK CHILD SUPPORT

Authorities in New Jersey recently took 31 people into custody as a result of back child support. According to law enforcement officials, the sweep was carried out to serve as a reminder of how crucial it is for parents to satisfy their child support obligations. Officials also hope that the operation, which took place in Somerset County, will spur more parents to start paying what they owe.

In all, the parents who were taken into custody had over $433,000 worth of unpaid child support. During the sweep, authorities were also able to take in more than $7,000 worth of payments for back child support. Officials had warrants to apprehend the 31 men and women over the course of the three-day sweep.

Falling behind on child support can lead to an incredible amount of anxiety and make life tough for those responsible for making payments as well as parents who are supposed to receive child support. For people struggling with these types of challenges, reaching out to an attorney could help.

SPECIAL NEEDS ACCOMMODATIONS IN CHILD CUSTODY AGREEMENTS

For families entering the divorce process, it’s incredibly important to ensure that the safety and well-being of children is accounted for. Ensuring that kids remain healthy and happy along the way can be complicated in many cases, however, when parents must also manage special needs. Fortunately for families throughout Salt Lake City, Utah, and beyond, social and legal resources are in place to identify and meet the needs of children with special needs when making child custody arrangements and other related decisions.

April is Autism Awareness Month and so it is a good time to acknowledge the needs of and resources for families with children that have autism spectrum disorders (ASD). When considering divorce, it’s important for parents with children that have ASD to recognize that their kids may be confronted with a number of changes to their routine and lifestyle. In order to make the divorce transition as easy as possible on kids with special needs, parents are advised to seek the advice and support of an experienced family law attorney. Not only will the attorney help to develop a child custody agreement that fully accounts for the needs of the child but they can also incorporate the advice and feedback of a family therapist familiar with the family’s specific needs and requests.

Beyond that, a family law attorney can help families account for the current and future financial needs of the child with ASD by creating a special needs trust. Establishing a trust to cover future expenses relating to everything from the child’s education to housing to healthcare costs goes beyond standard child support arrangements and helps to ensure that the needs of the child are met into adulthood.

Families with children with special needs are not alone when confronted with life changes like divorce.