Can I be held in contempt of court for failure to pay child support?

In New Jersey, parents are obligated to pay child support as mandated by the child support laws. Child support is not usually a voluntary payment, so courts in New Jersey can hold a person in contempt of court for failure to pay. Being held in contempt of court can have serious consequences, such as fines, jail time, or both. When a person does not comply with his or her court-ordered responsibility to pay child support, the custodial parent can take action to enforce the court order and have the non-custodial parent held in contempt of court. To begin the process, the custodial parent must file a motion for civil contempt in family court. The filing of this motion starts the process of getting the court to order the non-custodial parent to comply with the court-ordered child support obligation. The court can then hold a hearing and make a ruling. If the court finds the non-custodial parent in contempt of court for failure to pay child support, the person could face a variety of sanctions, including being held in jail, paying fines, or being ordered to complete community service. It is important for both parents to be aware of the consequences of failing to pay child support. If the court finds that a person is in contempt of court, that person could face serious legal consequences.

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Can I be held in contempt of court for failure to pay child support?

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