Offering Legal Help with Connecticut Child Support Enforcements & Modifications

How to get the support you need

Child support is an important aspect of caring for your child after divorce. If you pay child support, your contribution helps maintain the health and well-being of your child. If you receive child support, you know the importance of child support toward paying for necessities for your child. When child support is not paid or received as ordered in Connecticut, you may need legal help with enforcement or modification of your child support order. Located in West Hartford, The Law Offices of H. Dyke N. Spear, Jr. offers seasoned advice and legal service for clients dealing with Connecticut child support enforcement and modification proceedings.

What is enforcement?  What is modification?

If you have a court order to receive child support and it is not being paid, you can assert your right for enforcement. Support Enforcement Services (SES) is the branch of state government responsible for compliance with child support awards and orders. SES enforces child support orders using the following methods:

• Income withholding. Garnishment of all types of income and financial benefits may be ordered until support arrears are paid.
• Contempt proceedings. Individuals with outstanding child support arrears can be jailed on contempt of the child support order.
• License suspension. Recreational, professional and other licenses granted by the state can be suspended until payment of past due child support is made.
• Tax returns. Federal and state tax refund monies are monitored and attached for payment of child support you are owed.
• Credit rating. Child support arrears over $1,000 affect the credit rating of the non-custodial parent.
• Liens and seizure. SES will place liens on property and order seizure of financial accounts for monies owed to you by the non-custodial parent.

For custodial parents, SES is a powerful collection agency for enforcement of back due child support.

For parents who believe a child support order is too high or too low, we can petition the court for a modification of your child support order. Circumstances that support modification of child support include:

• A substantial change in income either up or down, like a large raise, new job or job loss
• Significant change in child care expenses
• A current child support figure approximately 15 percent higher or lower than current state guidelines

Paying or receiving the proper amount of child support is important to any Connecticut parent. If you need help with enforcement or modification, we offer straightforward, cost-effective assistance to straighten out your child support order.

Highly qualified help with child support enforcement in Connecticut

With more than 30 years of experience in West Hartford, The Law Offices of H. Dyke N. Spear, Jr. provides strong, practical legal advice and representation in Hartford and Tolland counties. Contact us or call 860.470.3296 to schedule a free half-hour consultation about your case.