If your child’s other parent does not pay child support in accordance with the court order, or if you have fallen behind on your child support obligations, it is important to take a close look at your options and understand how this could affect you. The state uses a number of tools to enforce child support orders, and you could worry about how this will influence other family law matters, such as custody rights.
As a parent, you must prioritize your child’s best interests with respect to child support and custody.
Back child support and custody rights
The North Carolina Judicial Branch states that custody rights are not dependent on child support payments. Instead, courts focus on relationships that serve the best interests of a child when it comes to custody rights. That said, if a parent refuses to pay child support on time, the court could take this into consideration when reviewing the parent’s ability to serve their child’s best interests.
Support and your child’s best interests
Whether you are a custodial or non-custodial parent, it is essential to focus on your child’s best interests when dealing with child support matters. Depending on your circumstances, this could mean taking steps to enforce a child support order or making payment arrangements to address back support that you owe.
In addition, it is also crucial to safeguard the best interests of your child with regard to child custody and visitation. If you struggle to pay child support, you should do everything in your power to prevent this from impacting your relationship with your child.
