Enforcing child support

If your ex has stopped paying child support, you may be wondering what legal steps you can take to enforce the order. In Utah, child support is a court-ordered obligation, and there are legal ways to ensure your child receives the financial support they deserve.

One of the biggest mistakes parents make is denying visitation rights to an ex who isn’t paying child support. While it may seem fair, Utah law does not allow you to withhold parenting time as a way to enforce payments. Doing so could put you in violation of a court order, leading to serious legal consequences.

So, what can you do instead? Utah law provides a legal enforcement process to hold a non-paying parent accountable. You can file a Motion to Enforce (used to be called an Order to Show Cause), which asks the court to require your ex to comply with the child support order and hold them in contempt for non-payment. If they still refuse to pay, the court can impose penalties such as wage garnishment, liens on property, or intercepting tax refunds, or even jail time.

In some cases, an ex-spouse may claim they can’t afford to pay child support due to job loss or financial hardship. If their financial situation has changed significantly, they may request a modification of the support order. However, they must go through the courts—they can’t simply stop paying on their own.

If your ex has stopped making child support payments, the best approach is to work with an experienced family law attorney. At RCG Law Group, we help parents enforce court orders and protect their child’s financial well-being.

Call us or click the Book Now button to schedule a consultation today.