Does he still need to pay child support after lost his job?

Question

My friend (a single father) is currently paying $800 / month for child support. He recently lost his job, just wondering in this situation, is he still responsible for child support? What if he simply cannot be able to pay it anymore? (his ex wife is still full time employed)

Answer 1

Should the mother of his children stop taking care of the kids then, and stop paying bills and feeding the kids?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Answer 2

yes, until he returns to Family Court and asks for a modification of the support order, he owes 800.00 a month.

Answer 3

yes he still has to pay child support. if he doesn't despite his reasons he can be put in jail, have future wages garnished, have any future income tax garnished and so forth. the only thing he MIGHT be able to do is ask for the child support to be reviewed and try to get it dropped a little. But none the less he HAS to pay child support.

Answer 4

it doesn't matter, just cuz he lost his job, doesn't mean that the kid isn't his anymore.  and it doesn't matter what the ex makes or if she is working.  have him contact the courts.  and i'm really hoping that he didn't quit his job so he didn't have to pay child support.  

Answer 5

yes. He is still the father and he has the obligation to take care of the kids. when the mother loses her job she would have to keep taking care of the kids too. Its a responsibility to find a new job.

Answer 6

yep.. it is his responsibility to pay that amount, no matter what.. he can ask the court for a "delay".. but I do not know if they will grant it..  

Answer 7

That is for the court to decide.  What he needs to do is request a hearing to modify or stop child support due to substantial changes...

What qualifies as a substantial change in circumstances?

In determining if there has been a substantial change in circumstances, the court will consider circumstances such as the following:

An increase in your income

You got a new job that pays more

A decrease in your income

You lost a job

You got hurt on the job and are on disability

You are receiving social security disability benefits

An increase in the needs of the child requiring child support

The child has a disability that requires more support.

The child turned 18

He would need to pay any and all support until the court states otherwise because he does not want that amount unpaid put in the rears......

Answer 8

Courts will make him get another job, he will be put on probation or he will go to jail.,

Answer 9

yeah he will just have to pay it in bulk or work somthing out when he does find a job

Answer 10

Most states allow child support to be modified when there is a "change in circumstances."  He has to go to court and deal with it.

Answer 11

The kids needs do not stop just because he lost his job.  A responsible father would go work at McDonald's if he had to in order to keep taking care of his kids.

Good luck!

Answer 12

  He does still have to pay child support.  What he does not pay will go into arreas and will have to be paid once he get's a job.  This means he could end up paying as much as $900 a month or have his tax return garnished.  His best bet is to contact child support enforcement and put in the paperwork to modify child support at least temporarily.

Answer 13

I would think that yeah he still has to pay& if he doesn't want to go to jail for non support then he better get another job asap! He should go to child support and let them know whats going on and maybe they will reduce the amount that he has to pay.I don't know what state ur in but i think the amt he has to pay goes according to his income?Check into it,and don't think that it will go away cuz it won't,& you both will be sorry!Good Luck.

Answer 14

Yes he still has to pay child support. Just because he's out of a job doesn't mean the child should go without necessities; food, shelter, clothing, etc. He can pick up cans, recycle bottles, give blood, borrow it from someone, whatever but he has to make those payments. If he doesn't it will just put him in the rear and by the time he gets a job he'll mostly be working to get caught up on back payment.

Answer 15

Yes, he is still responsible.  If he wasn't a lot of men would simply not work to avoid child support.  Instead what he needs to do is file a motion with the court to have it temporarily lowered until he can find a new job.