Examining Maryland’s child support enforcement options — II

Transitioning to post-divorce life is seldom easy for any parent. That’s because in addition to dealing the wide range of emotions, there are new schedules, new living arrangements and, of course, new payments.

As we started discussing in our post last week, however, it’s important for parents ordered to pay child support to know that Maryland’s Child Support Enforcement Administration will do everything in their power to ensure that timely payments are made and have a variety of enforcement tools at the ready. In today’s post, we’ll continue exploring these tools.

Driver’s license suspension

Those parents who are at least 60 days behind on their child support payments will be referred by the CSEA to the Motor Vehicle Administration for driver’s license suspension. Once the proper arrangements are made, the parent can work with the MVA to reinstate their driving privileges.

This is clearly one of the CSEA’s more formidable weapons and history has shown that its officials will not hesitate to use it.

Professional license suspension

Those people whose occupations require them to hold some sort of professional licensure have invested significant time and money into education, training and building a professional reputation. However, this is all of little consequence to the CSEA.

Indeed, those parents who are at least 120 days behind on their child support payments will be referred by the agency to the appropriate licensing body for professional license suspension.

Those professionals who find themselves in this position can see their professional license reinstated if they 1) pay the arrears in full or 2) make their ordered payments for four consecutive months.

Financial institution data match

A parent should know that they will not be able to conceal funds in accounts held in one or several financial institutions. That’s because CSEA officials can use a database to determine whether a parent owing past due child support has assets held in financial institutions and, if appropriate, garnish these assets.

We’ll conclude our examination of the CSEA’s enforcement tools in our next family law post.

If you require assistance with child support enforcement or modification, please consider contacting a legal professional to learn more.

Source: Maryland Department of Human Resources, “Child Support Enforcement Administration: Enforcement tools,” Accessed March 7, 2015

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