In our previous post, we mentioned a recent story in which a man who had been living in Indiana for over four years was arrested on a warrant charging child support evasion. Sources didn't mention how delinquent the man had been in his child support payments.

Child support enforcement is a very real problem for many custodial parents. Parents who aren't receiving support payments owed to them may find themselves at a loss of what to do.

Missouri Child Support Enforcement offices are set up to ensure that non-custodial parents fulfill their support obligations. Child support orders can be enforced by withholding income, intercepting tax refunds, reporting nonpayment to the credit bureau, having employers enroll the children of non-paying parents in health care plans, suspending licenses, putting liens on personal or real property, as well as other approaches.

According to the Missouri Department of Social Services, the most effective way to enforce a child support order is usually to do wage assignments and garnishments.

Should a non-custodial parent refuse to pay child support, there are not only state laws but also federal laws that come to bear. When the unpaid amount exceeds $5,000 and the noncustodial parent flees to a different state, that parent can be incarcerated for six months, with further offenses resulting in up to two years of incarceration.

Custodial parents who have a child support order which isn't being obeyed should either speak with an attorney or work with the Missouri Family Support Division to enforce the order.

Source: www.fox19.com, "Federal fugitive on the run since '06 arrested in Dearborn Co.," 23 Feb 2011.