Tickfaw, LA asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Business Law for Mississippi

Q: Stop child support deductions after gaining custody in Mississippi

I have had custody of my children for six months and have submitted school records and obtained insurance for them. Despite my attempts to update my circumstances with the child support agency, they continue to deduct child support from my paycheck and report it as unpaid, negatively impacting my credit. I have contacted the agency multiple times, but they claim the update is still pending. I live in a different county than the other parent, and I am working with an attorney to resolve this. What steps can I take to stop these deductions and correct my credit situation?

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered

A: To stop the child support deductions in Mississippi after gaining custody, you should first ensure the child support agency is fully aware of the custody change. Since you've already submitted documentation like school records and insurance information, follow up in writing to confirm they have everything necessary to update the case. It's essential to request a formal written acknowledgment from the agency that they’ve received your custody update and will stop the deductions.

In addition, you should work closely with your attorney to file a formal modification request with the court. This request should reflect your new custody arrangement and ask the court to update the child support order. Once the court approves this change, the child support agency should be notified and required to stop the deductions.

If the deductions continue despite your efforts, ask your attorney to assist with filing a motion to enforce the change. You may also want to reach out to the credit bureaus to explain the situation and request that they review the impact on your credit. By documenting your steps and working with your attorney, you can address the situation more effectively and reduce any ongoing issues.

Justia Ask A Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get free answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask A Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between Justia and you, or between any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions and you, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask A Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.