Does the visiting parent have rights if they are in arrears with their child support payments?
Yes. Child support payments and the right to visitation are two very separate issues. Visitation with a child is not a bargaining chip and cant unilaterally be withheld for failure to pay child support. One parent cannot say to the other, “well you owe me and until you pay, you cant see the kids”. When can you see the judge to plead your case? As a media-drenched culture we often have images in our minds of getting a “day in court” to tell our side of the story. However, this is oftentimes an unrealistic expectation. Judges have extremely congested calendars and their time to address each individual case is limited. A judge will gain only a snapshot of your entire case and the history and background of your life. Information that you believe will be critical to make a proper decision about your matter may be overlooked. Even the most well-meaning judge has time constraints so there is typically not enough time for a judge to become fully immersed in your case as you might expect. That
Related Questions
- I Currently Send The Child Support Payment Directly To The Custodial Parent. Should I Now Start Sending These Payments To The New Central Collection?
- Is there an easier way for the non-custodial parent to make child support payments on a regular basis?
- What happens if a parent does not make court-ordered child support payments?
