Florida Man Ordered to Pay More than Six Figures in Child Support
Ft. Lauderdale resident Jeffrey Kingman, 51, was sentenced to five years probation by a U.S. District court earlier this month for failure to pay child support, according to a recent Bangor Daily News report. Kingman allegedly owed more than $100,000 in back payments. Last fall, Kingman waived a grand jury trial and instead pled guilty to the charges. Kingman supposedly stopped paying court-ordered child support payments from 2012 through 2015. Should he fail to make restitution while on probation, Kingman faces up to two years in prison.
Florida Child Support Laws
Child support is a court-ordered payment by the non-custodial parent to the other. A custodial parent is the parent with whom the child resides. The purpose of these funds is to provide the custodial parent with financial support to maintain the expenses of raising the child or children from the prior union. While each state has its own laws on how to ensure child support payments are made, Florida procedures are particularly designed to prevent failure to pay child support.
In order to receive the full benefit of Florida’s child support laws, it is important for the receiving parent to register the court child support order with the state. Once this is done, the state will facilitate the payments between the parents in the event payments cease. A registration application must be completed with Florida’s Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED), unless a parent is receiving public benefits, which results in an automatic referral to the CSED.
Enforcement Methods
Some of Florida’s child support enforcement methods include, but are not limited to:
- Income deduction – If a noncustodial parent is employed, Florida law mandates that the employer deduct support payments from the parent’s paycheck. This is known as an “income deduction order” (IDO). The IDO follows the noncustodial parent to each job in any state across the nation. It is the noncustodial parent’s responsibility to inform the Child Support Enforcement Program, as well as the court, each time he or she changes employment;
- New hire reporting – The law requires that all businesses report new and rehired employees to the CSED agency in their respective state. Every state across the nation, including Florida, shares this information. This data is used to find where noncustodial parents are working. If there is a child support order, the funds are deducted from their paychecks;
- Driver’s license, as well as fishing and hunting license, suspension – if a noncustodial parent fails to make child support payments, the state of Florida has the authority to suspend the parent’s driver’s, fishing and/or hunting license(s);
- Interception/seizure of assets – the CSED has the authority to intercept a noncustodial parent’s federal tax refunds, Florida lottery winnings, unemployment compensation and other payments if she or he fails to make child support payments;
- Liens – as a result of past-due support payments, liens may be placed against a noncustodial parent’s property including, but not limited to, houses, mobile homes, land, cars, boats and other valuable items until the child support is paid;
- Contempt of court – failure to pay child support payments as required by a court-order is a violation of this order. The CSED can request the court hold the noncustodial parent in contempt and a judge may a monetary fine or imprisonment; and
- Arrest warrants – the court may issue an arrest warrant for failure to pay child support. The warrant registered with a statewide crime computer which is used by all Florida law enforcement agencies. This warrant gives an officer the power to arrest noncustodial parent.
Orlando Divorce Attorney
Divorce can be difficult. The lingering issues of alimony, child custody, child support or any other family law matter can make this stressful time even more difficult. If you or someone you know is going through a divorce, is considering the possibility of divorce, or is dealing with any other type of family law issue such as child custody or support payments, a seasoned Orlando family law attorney can help with navigating this complicated area of the law. Call the Law Offices of Steve W. Marsee, P.A. for your initial case evaluation today at 407-521-7171.
