I've read in the news recently that Bobby Brown (a famous singer from 1980's) has been jailed for not being able to pay $5,500 per month child support payments. And he has been ordered to stay in jail until he or someone else pays the $22,000 he owes now.
http://thetrack.bostonherald.com/moreTrack/view.bg?articleid=185402
I've never heard of people going to jail for non-payment of any other kinds of debt. Usually, people's bank accounts and property can be siezed and their wages can be garnisheed to pay for debts. But going to jail seem a little extreme to me. How can a guy get money while he is in jail?
Can't this guy just declare bankrupcy and get it over with?
2007-02-28 14:16:41 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Heh, heh. No, bankruptcy doesn't relieve you of supporting your children.
And - if you are a deadbeat dad, many nasty things can happen to you....garnish your wages, take your income tax refund, seize your drivers license, take your bank accounts, seize your 401K or IRA.....or you can go to jail for disobeying the court.
Many deadbeats try to get out of their responsibility by quitting their job and claiming they "don't have the money"....which will get them in the slammer real quick. In the Family Courts eye, if you are able-bodied, you can work and support your children.
2007-02-28 17:30:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bankrupcy laws are federal, not state, and as per the Bankrupcy Code, child support payments are cannot be discharged with bankrupcy.
One can however, use BK, to wipe out other debts.
A person will not be jailed for non-payment in good faith. If you just don't have the money, and are doing all you can to get it, and did so in the past. No one is putting you in jail for it. States get a cut of the money they collect from the feds, and it costs money to put people in jail.
People go to jail if the they try to skip out on thier responsibilites. If some one can pay and fails too, hides assets, lies to the court, or otherwise does something to evade paying child support, then they get sent to jail.
I've heard of parents who claim they were falsely imprisioned for "no fault of theirs", but who admits guilt? I have to side with the courts on this one.
2007-03-01 06:07:33 · answer #2 · answered by tallthatsme 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A man like that has no excuse for not paying his child support, just excuses.And if he was so worried about going to jail, then i guess he should of paid his child support.If a guy who is in jail for child support is worried about how hes gonna earn money to pay it well why didnt he think of that before he got locked up? And he cant file bankrupcy on child support. If that was the case everyone would file bankrupcy on child support.
iTS A LAW TO PAY OR SUPPORT OR ELSE. Its guys like this that help make laws like this. Hes a dead beat dad ! Im pretty sure he was given a chance to pay his support, but instead he decided to be a dead beat dad.
I had to pay child support, and if I fell behind they set up payment arrangements for me .
But the catch is you have to pay it.So just because he is famous singer he should get a break? Hell know lock his dead beat a.. up. Hes know better than any one else.
2007-02-28 22:36:15 · answer #3 · answered by tommyhawk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't go to jail for non-payment; you go to jail for contempt of court. You fail to follow a judge's order, i.e. paying support. Bankruptcy has no effect on child support. Income and assets are the only relevant factors. Student loans, IRS debts, and other government debts cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, either.
2007-02-28 22:24:06 · answer #4 · answered by normobrian 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You CANNOT declare bankruptcy on child support. That is something that will survive any bankruptcy. You CAN be jailed for nonpayment of child support.
2007-02-28 22:24:52 · answer #5 · answered by First Lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He can go to court an try to prove that paying the amount would be a hardship to get it reduced, but that will not stop him from owing missed payments.
2007-02-28 22:26:57 · answer #6 · answered by Kevin k 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bankruptcy does NOT include child support or government liens (IRS, Student Loans)
2007-02-28 22:21:07 · answer #7 · answered by RiverGirl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can't file your child support or spouse support in a bankruptcy...This I know for sure they are secured debts just like student loans and some credit cards
2007-02-28 22:38:12 · answer #8 · answered by iseemen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No! Child support is exempt from bankruptcy! As are taxes!!
2007-02-28 22:25:27 · answer #9 · answered by Tiff 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most, if not all states exclude child support from bankruptcy.
2007-02-28 22:32:51 · answer #10 · answered by Greg M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋