Child support arrangements are a vital aspect of a divorce between parents. New Jersey law mandates that both parents make financial contributions to the support of their children. While many parents dutifully meet their court-imposed obligations, some do not. Last week, law enforcement authorities engaged in a round-up of parents who were behind on child support payments.

All 21 of New Jersey’s sheriff’s offices were involved in the operation, in which non-paying parents were taken into custody across the state. In Bergen County alone, 51 arrested parents owed a combined $487,000 in back child support. Law enforcement has stated that the parents have paid approximately $40,000 since they were arrested. According to state records, one man owed nearly $120,000 in child support.

Of course, in some situations, a parent’s financial status will change in the years following the entry of a child support order. This may even be more true today due to the effects of the recent recession, in which many people have lost their jobs and, out of necessity, have had to take new ones at a greatly diminished salary.

A reduction in income may leave parents unable to meet prior child support obligations. But there are solutions. Parents can seek a modification of the amount of child support through the courts if their income has undergone a substantial change.

There is also a flip-side to the modification coin. Parents who are supposed to receive payments on behalf of their children can file an enforcement action if the other parent has not provided the required support.

Source: NJ.com, “Sheriff: Bergen child support sweep nets 51 alleged “deadbeat” parents,” Dan Ivers, June 8, 2012.