Bankruptcy doesn’t erase past-due child support

Child support payments are crucial to the parents who count on them to pay for the things their child needs. It is understandable that some parents who pay child support might not always be able to keep up with the payments. Still, those parents should consider child support as a priority expense since the support is court-ordered and provides vital support for their child.

When a parent does fall behind on child support, it can be difficult for them to get caught up. It might seem like the amount just keeps adding up and growing until it is financially suffocating. Add in other bills and unexpected expenses and the situation can get desperate for the parent.

If one thing leads to another and the paying parent has to file for bankruptcy, they must understand that having to do this doesn’t mean that the child support arrears go away. Court-ordered child support is one financial obligation that isn’t erased by bankruptcy.

There are several reasons why this is the case, but all that matters is that at the end of the day, even if your bankruptcy is approved, you will still owe the child support. In reality, this isn’t really something to be upset about. Instead, accepting that you are financially responsible for your child might help you to realize that the payments must still be made.

If you know that you are unable to pay child support because of reasons that you can’t control, you should determine if you should seek a modification of the child support order. This might be helpful if you lose your job or have to take a pay cut.

Source: FindLaw, “Child Support and Bankruptcy,” accessed Feb. 15, 2017