First of all, every parent needs to remember that — whether he or she is the payer or the recipient of child support — child support is the legal right of the child. In other words, child support is for the costs associated with a child’s upbringing, and it is not for the custodial parent who receives those funds. Knowing this can help parents stay level-headed and realistic not matter which side of the issue he or she happens to be on.
In the state of Maryland, most parents who are required to pay child support are non-custodial parents. They pay their support obligation to the parent who has custody. The court, usually calculates the amount of that support based on the paying parent’s level of income. If the parent earns more money, he or she will likely be required to pay more in child support.
Considering that around 50 percent of married couples end up divorcing these days, and considering that 25 percent of kids are born from non-married couples, the policing of child support decrees become an increasingly important service provided by the government. In the event that the paying parent falls behind on his or her child support obligations, the court (and the police) may at some point intervene. The state of Maryland takes child support seriously and it will aggressively pursue payments from any parent who has fallen behind, regardless the reason for one’s lateness.
For parents who are owed child support in Maryland, it may be necessary to seek the assistance of a family law attorney to get the money they and their children are owed. Similarly, a parent who has fallen behind on child support may wish to consult with a legal professional to find out what his or her rights are and how to resolve the problem.
Source: FindLaw, “Child support basics” Oct. 13, 2014
