Texas judge takes a strong stance on case of unpaid child support

 Posted on August 31, 2017 in Family Law

For those who think that family law courts do not punish those who refuse to pay child support, a recent Texas case may give you hope. Earlier this month, a judge with the 347th District Court ordered that a Texas father be taken into custody because he has not paid child support.

A separate news source indicates that the man owes approximately $130,000. This amount includes $87,000 in back child support payments, $45,000 from an earlier ruling and additional funds to cover medical expenses. Even though the man agreed to pay the owed support, the judge still ordered that he be taken into custody.

In addition to ordering the father’s arrest, the judge spoke to him at length about his parental responsibilities. Her remarks were harsh and to the point, including statements about how court orders are “not suggestions” and that she would make him “financially responsible” for his son. She also asserted how the man’s child had the right to be supported financially “by the person that brought him into this world.”

Reportedly, the father had previously ignored the court’s orders to pay child support and had failed to show up for an earlier court proceeding. The case is so severe that the father was placed on the local sheriff’s office’s most wanted list in July for failing to appear at this missed court hearing. He also had an active arrest warrant in place for his failure to appear.

If more Texas courts take similar steps to punish those who fail to pay child support, it may go a long way to decreasing the number of family law issues of this kind.

Source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times, “A.B. Quintanilla arrested during court appearance,” Eleanor Dearman, Aug. 16, 2017