How to Enforce a Child Support Order in Arizona

Petition for Contempt for Not Paying Child Support

As we talk about how to enforce a child support order in Arizona, let’s first talk about what is included in a child support order.

A child support order will include a monthly child support payment one parent will pay the other parent.

However, the order will also include payment of health insurance for the child and payment of uninsured medical expenses for the child.

Child support obligations are enforced by a parent filing a petition to hold the non-paying parent in contempt of court. A parent will be held in contempt of court if the parent had knowledge of the court’s support order, had the ability to pay the child support, and willfully and intentionally refused to do so.

Unlike other obligations, a judge is allowed to send a parent to jail if the court finds the parent in contempt of court for not paying his or her child support.

You will have to File a Petition for Contempt.

The court will sign an Order to Appear for a contempt hearing.

You must serve both the Petition for Contempt and the Order to Appear on the parent who is not paying his or her child support.

You will have to appear at the scheduled contempt hearing.

If the parent who is not paying child support does not show up to the hearing, the court can proceed with the hearing and will likely find that parent in contempt of court.

The court will also likely issue a warrant for that parent’s arrest.

Regardless of whether the other parent shows up for the hearing or not, you will have the burden of proving the other parent was aware of the child support order, had the ability to pay the child support obligation but willfully and intentionally refused to pay his or her child support.

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Other Sanctions for Not Paying Child Support

The court may also issue other sanctions such as suspending the parent’s drivers’ license or another professional license. The court, however, is required to include in its order a lump sum amount, referred to as a purge payment, the parent can pay to secure his or her immediate release from jail. The purge amount must be an amount the parent is capable of paying.

There is also a criminal statute that may be used in Arizona to enforce a parent’s obligation to pay child support. However, criminal statutes are only prosecuted by a state or county attorney.

The Arizona Court of Appeals in the case of State v. Buhman held that the Arizona statute making it a crime to fail to provide “reasonable support” does not violate the Constitution.

Some people may believe they are not obligated to pay their child support payments if the other parent has denied him or her visitation with their children.

However, the Arizona Court of Appeals in the case of Campbell v. Campbell held that a refusal to allow visitation did not relieve the other parent of the obligation to pay child support.

The Arizona Supreme Court in the case of Anonymous Wife v. Anonymous Husband ruled that a stepparent who paid for a step child’s necessities could intervene in the child support case to sue the nonpaying parent for reimbursement for the stepparent’s support of the child.

Wage Assignment and Collection to Collect Child Support

A wage assignment is a court order requiring an employer to withhold child support from a parent’s paycheck.

The order also orders the same employer to send that money to the Support Clearinghouse.

The Support Clearinghouse then sends the child support to the parent who is supposed to receive it.

If someone changes employers, you should send a copy of the wage assignment to his or her new employer to ensure they are withholding the correct amount of child support.

If that doesn’t work because the parent who is required to pay child support is self-employed or you do not know where he or she is employed, you can use other collection efforts, such as garnishment and execution.

A garnishment is a legal way of getting back child support.

You can garnish bank and investment accounts for the child support you are owed. Garnishment laws are complicated, so you may want to consult with an experienced collection attorney.

Execution is a legal term for using the law to collect money owed to you.

You can issue a Writ of Execution which will be enforced by the Sherriff’s department.

A Writ of Execution directs law enforcement to seize assets of the parent who has not paid his or her child support.

Upon seizing the parent’s assets, an auction is scheduled to sell those assets to pay off the delinquent child support.

If you have questions about how to enforce a child support order in Arizona, you should seriously consider contacting the attorneys at Hildebrand Law, PC. Our Arizona child support and family law attorneys have decades of combined experience successfully representing clients in child support and family law cases.

Our family law firm has earned numerous awards such as US News and World Reports Best Arizona Family Law Firm, US News and World Report Best Divorce Attorneys, “Best of the Valley” by Arizona Foothills readers, and “Best Arizona Divorce Law Firms” by North Scottsdale Magazine.

Call us today at (480)305-8300 or reach out to us through our appointment scheduling form to schedule your personalized consultation and turn your child support or family law case around today.

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Other Frequently Asked Questions About How to Enforce Child Support in Arizona:

What are the penalties for not paying child support in Arizona?

The penalties for not paying child support include incarceration for contempt of court, being ordered to pay the other parent’s attorney fees for enforcing child support, and suspension of your drivers license, and the suspension of any professional licenses you may have.

How far behind in child support before a warrant is issued in Arizona?

There is no set rule in Arizona on how far behind in child support a parent must be before an arrest warrant is issued or a parent is incarcerated for contempt of court. A judge is most likely to issue an arrest warrant or put someone in fail for contempt of court if it is clear the parent had the ability to pay child support and is simply refusing to comply with the child support order.

Can you go to jail for not paying child support in Arizona?

Yes, you can go to jail for not paying child support in Arizona if the judge determines you had the ability to pay but intentionally refused to comply with the child support order.

Does Arizona enforce child support?

Yes, Arizona does enforce child support through the Superior Courts of the county in which you file to enforce child support. Arizona can enforce child support orders issued by an Arizona judge, as well as child support orders issued in other states pursuant to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.

What happens when child support arrears are paid in full in Arizona?

When child support arrears are paid in full in Arizona, the other parent is required to file a Notice of Satisfaction of Judgment if a prior child support arrears judgment had been issued by the court. There is nothing else you need to do if you paid the child support arrears through the Support Payment Clearinghouse. You need to have the other parent sign and file with the court an Affidavit of Direct Payment if you paid the child support arrears directly to the other parent as opposed to using the Support Payment Clearinghouse.

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Arizona Child Support Laws | Hildebrand Law, PC