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Most people are aware of the fact that avoiding your problems, rather than confronting them in a constructive manner, is not a recipe for success. When it comes to dealing with legal problems, this fact is doubly true. If you avoid a serious personal problem – say, a problem with alcohol use, for example– you can end up causing damage to your health. If you avoid a legal problem, on the other hand, you can end up losing your freedom, as avoidance of certain legal problems can land people in jail.
When it comes to child support, Marylanders are best advised to always confront their obligations directly, as avoiding child support obligations can lead to powerful negative consequences. This was what happened in the case of Greene v. Grant (2018). Let’s look at this case in detail to better understand what can happen when child support obligations are ignored.
Factual Overview of the Case
The father in this case was a professional basketball player who frequently traveled abroad in his career. In 2014, the father agreed to pay the mother $4,000 per month in child support. The father failed to pay his support obligation consistently, and by 2018, he owed more than $100,000 in back support. The mother went to court to compel the father to pay his arrearage. A summons and petitioner were sent to the father’s grandmother’s house, as that was the address the father used with the court. The father failed to respond in a timely manner, and he also failed to make an appearance at the in person hearing. The court ordered the father to make monthly payments of $25,000 until the back support was paid off.
A hearing was set to check in and make sure that the father was indeed making the payments toward the arrearage. The father also failed to show up at that hearing. Then, the court set another hearing, and announced that the penalty for failing to show up at that hearing would be a revocation of the father’s passport. Since the father regularly used his passport to play basketball overseas, he finally responded. Although the father later claimed that he never received the notices because his grandmother’s address was not his current address, the court still ordered him to pay back the $25,000 per month until the balance was paid off.
Ruling & Discussion
In this case, we can see how the avoidance of legal issues can result in powerful negative consequences, as the father was severely financially impacted by his avoidance of child support payments. The court was ultimately compelled to take drastic measures. The threat of revoking the father’s passport was enough to get the father to respond, but the court could’ve also taken other steps as well. In instances of back child support, the court has the authority to impose jail sentences, although that is generally considered to be the “last resort.” The father’s story that he failed to receive notice was unconvincing. This is another important point to take away from this case: in these instances, it is essential to be proactive in resolving your issues, as the court will punish lackluster effort harshly.
Contact the Murphy Law Firm for Additional Information
If you want to know more about the risks of avoiding child support, or about how child support is calculated in Maryland, or another related issue, contact one of the family law attorneys at the Murphy Law Firm today by calling 240-219-5243.
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