You Can’t Stop Visitation Because They’re Not Paying Child Support — A Lawyer Explains Why

Lost your job and can’t afford child support? Thinking about withholding visitation because the other parent isn’t paying? Before you do anything — watch this.

Attorney Shameka L. Rhoades of Trustice Law Group breaks down exactly what happens when life changes after a custody or child support order is entered, and what you MUST do to protect yourself legally. In this segment from ABC News Showcase, Shameka covers:

• What to do immediately if you lose your job and can’t make child support payments
• Why a verbal agreement with the other parent is NOT enough — it must go through the court
• Can custody be changed after a court order? (Yes — but only with a material change in circumstance)
• Why you CANNOT stop visitation because the other parent isn’t paying child support
• What a ‘show cause’ motion is and how to use it when the other parent ignores court orders
• How to document missed visitation and non-compliance to protect yourself in court

The #1 rule? Everything goes through the courts. Taking matters into your own hands can seriously backfire — even when you’re the one doing the right thing.