Deadbeat Parents in Texas: Half Are Late on Child Support

Texans lag on child support payments. According to the Houston Chronicle, about 460,000 Texas parents are deadbeats.

Well, perhaps the term “deadbeat” is extreme, but these parents were delinquent on their child support payments last year by at least a month, the Chron reports.

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Those numbers translate to almost 50% of parents who are obligated to pay child support. So if you break it down, a bit more than half of Texas parents who are required to pay child support actually paid it on time last year.

Even more shocking are the dollar figures attached to unpaid child support in Texas. That number is up to almost $11 billion.

That’s “billion” with a “b.”

It’s a sign of the times, one can say. After all, the Chronicle points out that the delinquencies hit a high around 2009, when the economy was hitting a low point.

Sure, the economy plays a role in the delinquency of child support payments. But the Texas Attorney General’s office has no pity for delinquent parents. While many parents are applying to reduce their child support obligations, the AG’s office is still on their heels, reports Waco’s KWTX-TV.

With all the late child support payments, one begs to ask, “Will anyone please think of the children?” According to experts (as the Chron notes), the lag in child support payments can sometimes have an irreversible negative impact on children. For example, a late child support payment can translate into unpaid rent or school expenses.

If you’re having trouble meeting your child support payments, it’s possible to get a child support modification if you can show a change in your financial circumstances. An experienced local family lawyer can help guide you through the process.

And if you’re wondering how Texas got so far behind in collecting unpaid child support, look for our upcoming post on the top child support evaders in Texas.

Related Resources:

• Find a Houston Family Lawyer (FindLaw)
• Child Support (FindLaw)
• Divorce (FindLaw)
• Texans’ WR Andre Johnson Sued for Child Support (FindLaw’s Houston Family Law Blog)