Q: Maximum Jail Term for "Civil Contempt -- Back Child Support"
What is the maximum length of time that a person can be held in jail for "Civil Contempt -- Back Child Support"? There are no criminal charges. Amount of child support arrears is $3,500. The person in jail has zero financial resources and zero ability to come up with the money to pay the arrears. I presume she cannot be held indefinitely. What is the maximum length of time this person can be held in jail? This is in Georgia.
A: The court will only order jail time if the court finds that she has not exhausted all resources in order to try to pay. $3500 is not a lot of money to come up with. She needs to have applied for loans, title pawns, sold jewelry, gotten a 2nd job, maxed out credit card, asked for money from friends / family. If that has not been done, then all efforts have not been exhausted.
Homer P Jordan IV agrees with this answer
1 user found this answer helpful
A: I agree with my colleague, jail time is going to be a last resort, and that is not a lot of money to be behind at this point. -Homer P. Jordan IV, Esq. 404-620-1558
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