Lytle, TX asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Texas

Q: How can i see my children and not go to jail because child support?

I have 5 kids with 2 different women. My first son i have full custody of. My other 4 i am not aloud to even talk to because their mother and her parents. I got another girlfriend and she told me i can no longer speak to her or my kids. If i try they will move to another state. Her parents are rich so they have homes in other states. I have had some legal problems but i have them taken care of. im on probation now for5 years and im paying a lot of money to them and also still paying my bonds people. I even lost my job from getting hurt. Money is tight. I can't even give them money they wont let me. Im scared if i put myself on CSi will get arrested if i can't pay. I have little to no money now but i'm trying. I just really miss my kids and and my son misses his siblings. What should i do? They won't put me on child support because then i have rights. Should i get put on child support just to see them? Or is there another way legally i can see them? If i can't pay CP will i go to jail

1 Lawyer Answer
Sharita Blacknall
Sharita Blacknall
Answered
  • Divorce Lawyer
  • Plano, TX
  • Licensed in Texas

A: A person can go to jail for not paying child support if they fall behind for a significant amount. The only way to get legal visitation rights is to have a court order signed by a judge. That order will include payment of child support. However, the other parent cannot stop visitation just because child support has not been paid. As far as the children being moved to another state, court orders generally have a provision that prevents that from happening.

Perhaps you can reverse engineer your budget. You can use an online child support calculator for Texas to figure out how much your child support would be and then adjust your other expenses around that amount. You may also want to pick up a side hustle for extra income. There are a lot of apps for delivery services and other ways to make extra money.

Good luck and don't give up.

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