Many people heard last month that Will Hill of the Giants was arrested in New Jersey for nonpayment of child support. The safety’s arrest garnered national media attention, and this may have left many people wondering whether they too could be arrested for falling behind on child support obligations.

Here in New Jersey, it is possible to be arrested and to face jail time for neglecting court orders to pay child support. However, this is rare.

When a parent fails to pay child support, causing the support to become past due or to go into arrears, New Jersey courts have a few options. The courts may garnish tax refunds or seize assets. They may revoke a driver’s license or a professional license. And, a continued failure to pay may ultimately result in an arrest warrant.

In the case of Will Hill, he was arrested after a traffic stop in Little Falls. When he was stopped, police learned that a warrant had been issued due to nonpayment of child support.

Shortly after the arrest, Hill paid the outstanding child support – about $9,100 – and he was then released.

It is not clear why the professional athlete had fallen behind on child support.

In some cases, parents become delinquent because they lose their jobs or cannot afford the child support for some other reason. In other cases, they may think a child support order is neither fair nor reasonable, and so they refuse to comply.

It is important that parents understand that child support awards are court orders. When a parent violates a child support order, regardless of the reason, serious civil and even criminal consequences may follow. New Jersey residents should talk to a Supreme Court-designated Certified Family Law Specialist about their legal options should they become unable to fulfill their child support orders. Those having trouble collecting their child support may also benefit from experienced legal counsel.

Source: The Star-Ledger, “Giants’ Will Hill arrested for non-payment of child support, will play on Sunday,” Conor Orr, Dec. 21, 2013