The role of social media in child support disputes

When two people in Nevada decide to have a child, there is an expectation that they will support that child. If the parents subsequently divorce, one may gain custody of the children while the courts may order the non-custodial parent to pay a set amount of child support every month. Some parents are diligent about making their payments, but others neglect to send any financial support to their children.

There is no law against being legitimately unable to cover the support, and there are cases where the non-custodial parent is destitute and has nothing to send. On the other hand, there are parents who have the means to support their children but choose not to. When the evidence supports the idea that a person is willfully refusing to pay child support, then the criminal justice system may become involved in the case.

With the advent of social media, proving that an individual has the means to pay their court-ordered child support is becoming easier and more effective. When individuals use social media to display their new cars and expensive lifestyle, then ex-partners can take that proof to the courts and request a judgment against the non-custodial parent. In some cases, the District Attorney may choose to pursue criminal charges in an effort to convince people to start paying their debt.

When child support levels are set by the courts, they are a mandate rather than a suggestion. If a parent genuinely cannot pay the required amount, then he or she must go through the courts to have the monthly payments adjusted. Refusing to pay for child support and then buying expensive items can lead to serious problems. In the case of custodial parent who are not receiving the required funds, they can conduct an investigation to determine if their former partner has the ability to pay or not.

Source: Fox 6, “Facebook posts get deadbeat parents busted for not paying child support“, Stephen Davis and Meghan Dwyer, July 16, 2014