Legal Definitions - Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act

The Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act is a federal law that was passed in 1998. It makes it a felony, which is a serious crime, for a parent to not pay child support if they have crossed state lines to avoid paying. This means that if a parent owes more than $5,000 in child support or has not paid for more than a year, and they leave the state to avoid paying, they can be punished with up to two years in prison.

The Act also punishes parents who willfully fail to pay child support for a child living in a different state. If the amount owed is more than $10,000 or has not been paid for more than two years, the parent can be charged with a felony.

For example, if a father owes $6,000 in child support and moves to a different state to avoid paying, he can be charged with a felony under the Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act. Similarly, if a mother owes $12,000 in child support for a child living in a different state and has not paid for more than two years, she can also be charged with a felony.

The Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act is important because it helps ensure that parents are financially responsible for their children, even if they try to avoid paying. It also helps to protect the well-being of children who rely on child support payments to meet their basic needs.