Military parents on active duty must manage both their service and their family responsibilities, like child support. It is important for them to keep up with child support payments, even when they are deployed. What should you parents on active-duty know about child support?
What should military parents know about child support?
Deployment interrupts many aspects of your life. However, active-duty military parents need to make sure they meet their child support responsibilities, even when deployed.
Unfortunately, military parents also face unique challenges when paying child support. Moving often and being deployed can make child support arrangements harder. It is important to talk with the other parent and the court during deployment times. Changes in rank, location, or deployment can also affect income, which might change child support amounts.
What happens if a service member does not pay child support?
Not paying child support can lead to serious problems for people in the military. These consequences can include:
Wage garnishment: The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) can take child support payments directly from a service member’s pay.
Legal action: The parent who is supposed to get child support can take legal action if they do not receive support. This might lead to penalties like fines or even jail time.
Impact on military career: Not paying child support can hurt a servicemember’s career. It can result in disciplinary actions and affect security clearances. This could limit opportunities for promotion. In some cases, non-payment may even lead to court-martial.
All parents – including those in the military – have a responsibility support their child. By understanding child support requirements, servicemembers can help ensure their children’s well-being and protect their own military careers.
