Cases in Mississippi and elsewhere involving the non-payment of child support can often be difficult to resolve. On the one hand, the custodial parent has every right to enforce the collection of child support on behalf of the child or children. Yet on the other hand, the non-custodial parent may be simply unable to pay rather than unwilling to pay. Nonetheless, a failure to pay could very well lead to serious ramifications for the non-custodial parent, including hefty fines and time behind bars.

Recently, a 44-year-old mother from Guntown, Mississippi, pleaded guilty in a Clay County Circuit Court to felony non-support. According to court documents, she owes $30,000 in back-due child support payments. Under the terms of her sentence, she will need to immediately pay $5,000 to cover the arrearage along with court costs. She will also need to pay $250 more a month in addition to her regular court-ordered child support payments.

When a Mississippi resident is having trouble meeting their court-ordered child support payments -- for instance if he or she recently became unemployed or underemployed -- it may be possible to seek a modification of the payment. This way, they may continue to make the payments without falling behind and without putting themselves in further financial difficulty.

However, it is important to remember that many custodial parents rely on child support payments to ensure that their children's best interests are served. A custodial parent seeking back-due child support may wish to consult with an attorney about procuring the assistance of the court in collecting the necessary payments.

Source: Mississippi Attorney General's Office, "Deadbeat mom sentenced for failing to pay child support," Jan Schaefer, Jan. 11, 2012.