Powerball winner owes $29,000 in child support

Spokane residents who are owed child support understand that once the amount owed reaches a certain number, it can feel like they’ll never be given support. Missed child support payments can take a toll on a single parent, and can place them in a financial bind.

Many believe that winning the lottery would answer all of their financial troubles and make their dreams come true. Most recently, the Powerball lottery ticket winner won $338 million, but may be facing jail time for his failure to make child support payments which total nearly $29,000. Most likely, the New Jersey Division of Lottery will satisfy the judgment prior to releasing the award to the man. Until then, the man is still subject to arrest. The man has five children and the missed payments date back to 2009. According to public records, the man has gone through hard financial times, including a fire at the man’s bodega and a foreclosure on his property.

Many times, missed child support payments can create a suffocating financial burden on one parent. Child support checks can help a parent cover many expenses. Legally speaking, child support payments seek to cover a child’s expenses, which may include but are not limited to medical expenses, school fees, extracurricular activities, entertainment, food and clothing, childcare, and travel expenses.

The amount that is due each month is typically derived from child support guidelines in order to determine how much support a parent should pay. Factors such as the financial needs of the child, the child’s standard of living and the parent’s income are all considered by a court. A court will not monitor or supervise a parent’s spending habits, as it is assumed that the parent is using the payment towards the necessary expenses of raising a child.

Child support payments can sometimes mean the difference between financial stability or financial stress. If you have a valid child support order and you are dealing with a delinquent parent, an attorney may be able to help advise you of your legal options in order to receive past owed and future child support payments.

Source: NorthJersey.com, “Passaic Pwerball winner owes $29,000 in child support, sheriff says,” March 27, 2013