Oklahoma Makes Arrests for Failure to Pay

States across the nation are cracking down on parents that have become negligent in their child support payments. Three such parents were detained in Oklahoma last week and will spend six months in jail. The three men appeared before a judge in Sequoyah County and were sentenced to 180 days behind bars. Fourteen more parents were scheduled to appear but did not, all of whom now have bench warrants out for their arrest. The District Attorney's office is asking for the public's help in locating these parents. In March alone noncustodial parents paid a total of nearly $537,000 in child support through the Sallisaw Child Support Office.

A recent change in Oklahoma law backed by the U.S. Congress allows the child support office to collect payments from noncustodial parents in new ways. Parents that have court orders to make child support payments can have these payments withdrawn from their Worker's Compensation benefits, Social Security benefits and personal injury settlements without their permission. If you are owed past due child support payments and want to know what options you have by law, speak with a family lawyer near you as soon as possible so you can seek the financial support you are owed.