Parents have a legal duty to protect their children and provide for them. And when the parents separate, the state authorities at Oklahoma step in to make sure that the parents don’t shirk from their duties. And this obligation continues till the child comes of age.
Oklahoma has established strict child support guidelines. These guidelines determine the amount of financial support that parents at varying income levels are supposed to spend on their children.
In this article, we will discuss various aspects related to child support in Oklahoma. We will also understand how is child support calculated in Oklahoma and if there are any consequences of not paying for child support. So, let’s get started.
Calculating Child Support in Oklahoma
The state of Oklahoma has created a mathematical formula to determine the child support that takes into consideration the gross income of each parent. To simplify the process, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services has a child support calculator on its website.
When determining the amount of child support, the court typically considers the following factors for both parents:
- Income of each parent from work (including bonuses, tips, and commissions)
- Income from business and partnerships
- Any rental income or interest income from investments
- Amount of time the child lives with each parent
- Social security benefits
- Unemployment benefits
- Disability benefits
- Worker’s compensation benefits
- Gifts or royalties
Apart from these, several factors are not taken into consideration by the court. These include:
- Child support and adoption subsidies
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- General Assistance or supplemental payments by the State for the aged, blind, or disabled
- Food Stamps
- Any income that the child receives, such as disability benefits
How Long Does Child Support Last?
In Oklahoma, children are entitled to receive monetary support from their parents until they are 18 years of age. But if the child is still in high school when he turns 18, the support will continue till he graduates or turns at least 19 years old.
In the case of more than one child, the support continues until all the children are no longer entitled to receive child support. If there is any past-due support owed, the parent has to send payments until there is an order to stop doing so.
How is Child Support Enforced in Oklahoma?
To ensure that the child receives his due support, the Oklahoma State issues an order to the obligator’s employer, directing him to hold back a specific amount of their earnings for child support. Once the income is received by the Department of Human Services in Oklahoma, it is noted as paid and transferred to the custodial parent.
However, in case both parents amicably agree to the terms of child support, things can be done more smoothly. Instead of using income assignment, the obligor parent could simply pay the due finances to the custodial parent through any money transfer method.
Consequences of Not Paying Child Support
The Oklahoma state notifies the parent about the date when the child support must be submitted. Failure to pay on the mentioned date may lead to grave consequences. This may include court sanctions, fines, or even loss of professional license.
Here are some common consequences of not paying child support in Oklahoma.
- An order may be issued to your employer to withhold a certain amount of income from your salary.
- There may be liens placed on your property.
- Your state and federal taxes may be seized.
- It may get harder to travel as your driver’s license may be seized or your passport denied.
- You may not be able to register any vehicle under your name.
- Your name may appear on the Oklahoma Child Support Enforcement’s Most Wanted List.
- Your driver’s license, recreational license, professional license, or business permit may be suspended.
In case the parents cannot decide on any child support arrangement on their own, the court will have to intervene. The court will make sure that the child receives an appropriate amount of support till he comes of age.
Apart from the aforementioned consequences, parents who don’t pay child support may also be held in contempt of court. And this may also lead to jail time.
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