Can I Get My Ex’s License Suspended if They Don’t Pay Child Support in Atlanta?

Single parents face serious financial pressures when their exes do not follow through on their child support obligations. If you are dealing with this situation, you might wonder how you can convince your ex to start making these payments. Do you have any kind of leverage in this situation? What kind of legal consequences could your ex face if they stop paying? Is it true that they will lose their license if they stop paying child support in Atlanta?

Georgia Has Specific Rules About Suspending Licenses for Child Support Delinquency 

The Georgia Department of Human Services has very specific rules when it comes to suspending people’s licenses for failing to pay child support. First, you should know that this is a very real possibility. If your ex fails to pay child support, the state has the legal authority to suspend their driver’s license and take away their driving privileges.

However, various steps need to occur before this suspension happens. The state cannot simply suspend a driver’s license because someone missed a single child support payment. The suspension of a driver’s license is often the “final straw” after an ex fails to pay for an extended period of time.

According to the Division of Child Support Services, a parent only becomes eligible for license suspension if they owe more than three months of child support payments. If their owing balance is less than three months of normal child support payments, the state must explore other options for enforcement.

Once a parent racks up three months’ worth of child support debt, the state must provide them with various resources to help them explore alternatives to license suspension. The parent may be able to explain why they have failed to pay child support. For example, they might have lost their job. Perhaps they had an accident, causing them to lose wages and incur medical expenses.

Your ex could potentially pay 20% of the amount owing and still keep their license. A court-ordered arrears payment may also help them keep their license. Alternatively, they could prove that they are now on Social Security benefits, or that they have suffered some kind of medical issue that prevents them from working.

You Can Have Other Licenses Suspended as Well

Having your ex’s driving license suspended is just one example of a potential strategy for enforcement. You might also push for the relevant authorities to suspend their professional licenses. For example, your ex might be a licensed electrician, lawyer, accountant, or doctor.

Can a Child Support Lawyer in Atlanta Help Me?

If your ex has stopped making their child support payments (or never started in the first place), you may contact a child support lawyer in Atlanta for further guidance. According to Georgia law, your ex could lose various licenses and other privileges if they fail to follow the court order. Learn more by contacting Buckhead Family Law today.

Source: 

childsupport.georgia.gov/programs-services/drivers-license-reinstatement