Can my husband's back child support affect me?

Asked by: Ethelyn Leannon  |  Last update: September 12, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (49 votes)

For back child support incurred after the marriage, it is possible you will also be considered an eligible party for child support obligations. In this case, depending on the jurisdiction, your wages may be subject to garnishment.

Can the IRS take my refund if my husband owes child support?

If the spouse has an outstanding tax debt or personal debt of back child support or unpaid student loan, the IRS WILL seize the refund on the joint tax return. Unless the other spouse includes with the tax return a Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation to prevent the seizing of their portion of the joint tax refund.

What happens if I marry someone that owes back child support?

Thank you for your question. No, you cannot be made liable for your future husband's child support arrears. He is solely liable to pay that. However, if you co-mingle your assets, they may become subject to garnishment proceedings.

Can my husband's child support affect me?

The child support your husband is ordered to pay is his separate property obligation. Although you personally can not be obligated to pay it (ie, your wages could not be attached, etc.) it will still affect your household budget as an expense.

What does back child support affect?

Failing to pay child support in California can have severe and far-reaching consequences. From monetary penalties and credit score damage to asset seizures and license suspensions, the repercussions are daunting.

Ask Lynn | My Husband Owes $36,000 In Back Child Support And Works Part-Time

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Can you get custody if you owe back child support?

In theory, child support and child custody are two separate issues which are not connected. To give you a short answer to your question straight away, your request to modify child custody to obtain full custody cannot be denied based solely on the fact that you owe child support.

How do I protect myself from my husband's child support?

Child support cannot touch your income if you keep it separate from his. Put your income in a separate bank account, and it is yours. Do not use a joint bank account. This will protect you.

Can I go after my ex-husband's new wife for child support?

Your new spouse's income may not be garnished by your ex to satisfy your outstanding child support amount.

How much child support will I pay if I make $1000 a week?

Using a standard calculation, an individual earning $1,000 a week might pay around $250 per month for one child, though this figure can vary significantly based on specific circumstances and local county guidelines.

Can I sue my ex for back child support?

Legal Rights to Sue for Back Child Support

This process involves filing a court order and meeting legal prerequisites, including adhering to any statute of limitations. In cases where the non-custodial parent lacks immediate funds, the court order ensures future payment as the parent acquires the means.

Can I sponsor my wife if I owe back child support?

The short answer is the back due support won't affect your ability to sponsor your fiancé for her visa. However you must also act as her financial sponsor and your child will be considered your dependent when calculating the requisite income threshold to meet the minimum level to act as her financial sponsor.

Can you sue your husband for child support?

Can I sue for child support? Not unless you and your spouse have separated. Courts won't intervene in a family's lifestyle unless the children are being abused or neglected. If you're married and need additional support from your spouse, you may want to consider therapy to discuss your needs.

What is the innocent spouse rule?

Innocent spouse relief can relieve you from paying additional taxes if your spouse understated taxes due on your joint tax return and you didn't know about the errors. Innocent spouse relief is only for taxes due on your spouse's income from employment or self-employment.

Does the IRS always take your refund for child support?

Not every child support account in arrears faces an interception by the IRS. When the parent who is a child support recipient also receives state benefits in California, the state can divert the federal tax return into the child support account once it's $150 in arrears.

Can the IRS take my money if my husband owes back taxes?

Whether you're the one who incurred the tax liability or your partner, the IRS can seize tax refunds, garnish wages, and even seize your house or assets, depending on how much liability is owed. However, the IRS rarely seizes physical property such as your home, car, and other assets.

How much do most dads pay in child support?

The average child support payment in California comes in at around $500 per month. Other estimates put the number at around $425 on the low end and approximately $800 for a high average. Of course, these numbers are just a rough estimate of what the average person pays monthly for child support.

What is the new child support law in 2024 in California?

Effective January 1, 2024, the bill repeals provisions for expedited support orders. This change simplifies the process, potentially reducing confusion and legal complexities for parents. As a result, families in San Diego may find the initial stages of establishing child support less rushed and more thorough.

What determines spousal support in California?

The guideline states that the paying spouse's support be presumptively 40% of his or her net monthly income, reduced by one-half of the receiving spouse's net monthly income. If child support is an issue, spousal support is calculated after child support is calculated.

What happens if you marry someone who owes back child support?

If you are married to someone with a back child support obligation and you file jointly, you can expect the government to recapture the return up to the amount owed, unless you file special paperwork with the IRS. Many state governments will also use recapture to take lottery winnings to pay back child support.

Can my ex-wife claim my new wife's money?

The court will rarely consider the new spouse's income unless: Both biological parents earn too little money to provide for the child's basic needs. A parent voluntarily or intentionally quits work or reduces their income. A parent remains underemployed or unemployed and relies on the new spouse's income.

Is a new wife responsible for husband's child support?

It may only be considered in rare cases where not considering the new spouse's income would cause extreme and severe hardship to the child or children involved. In a vast majority of cases, the child support calculation is factored strictly by the parent's gross income.

What questions do they ask at a child support hearing?

You can expect the following questions:
  • – Child's Needs. Courts need accurate data and information about a child's needs. ...
  • – Income and Assets. Both parents will be asked about their assets and salaries by the judge. ...
  • – Parents' Expenses. ...
  • – Communication. ...
  • – Existing Arrangements.

Can my ex wife stop child support?

Child support causes a lot of problems for parents who cannot afford it or who don't feel as if they should be obligated to pay it. Fortunately, for some non-custodial parents who cannot afford or don't want to pay child support, it is possible for both spouses to opt out of child support payments.

Can my wife take me for child support?

Anytime two parents are separated the court can order child support. It can be ordered in a divorce action, legal separation action, paternity or custody action, or even an action solely regarding child support.

What not to say during a custody battle?

Avoid cursing and putting down the other parent, your children, in-laws, and other family members, the mediator, the judge, and others involved in the process. That can be tricky when sensitive topics, such as substance abuse, are at play.