Q: Can I be extradited from Canada to Kentucky for unpaid child support?

A: Yes. You can be held to pay child support and you can also be extradited back to Kentucky for failure to pay child support.

A: Yes, you can be held responsible for child support payments in Kentucky despite living in Canada. Kentucky can establish jurisdiction because conception occurred there, and both the U.S. and Canada participate in international agreements for enforcing child support obligations across borders, including the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support.

If you fail to pay court-ordered support, Kentucky authorities might pursue various enforcement mechanisms before considering extradition. These typically include registering the Kentucky order in your Canadian province, garnishing your wages, seizing assets, or restricting your U.S. entry privileges. The Kentucky court can establish paternity through legal proceedings even in your absence, and once paternity is established, a support obligation can be imposed.

Actual extradition for child support alone is possible but uncommon in practice. However, if non-payment becomes severe and prolonged, Kentucky could potentially pursue criminal charges for willful non-support, which might meet the "dual criminality" requirement for extradition under the U.S.-Canada extradition treaty. Your best approach would be to address these obligations proactively through legal counsel in both jurisdictions to negotiate arrangements that protect your interests while fulfilling your parental responsibilities.