What Can I Do if I Think My Spouse is Lying About Income to Avoid Paying Child Support? 

 Posted on January 18, 2022 in Divorce

 Child support provides crucial financial assistance to Illinois parents who are raising children, often with very little help from their child’s other parent. When one parent refuses to pay child support or hides income to try to lower the amount of support they owe, it can cause enormous difficulties. The parent who needs to make up the financial difference suffers, but, perhaps more importantly, the child can suffer a diminished quality of life through no fault of her own. 

If you are getting divorced and have a hunch that your spouse may be hiding or manipulating their income to avoid paying child support, an experienced Illinois family law attorney may be able to help. Here are some signs to watch out for that may indicate warning signs of hidden income, as well as steps you may be able to take to find hidden income. 

How Do Spouses Hide Income to Avoid Paying Child Support? 

Many parents have a suspicion that their child’s other parent is hiding income because of a trend of financial deception during the relationship. If a person is willing to be manipulative about finances in the past, he or she is likely to do so in the future if it might benefit them. Here are some other signs a parent may be hiding income: 

• Claiming that a previously successful business is failing

• Claiming to have a lower income, while publicly living a lavish lifestyle

• Making trips to locations with lenient banking laws, such as the Cayman Islands

• Sending mail to a P.O. Box instead of a home address

• Opening or closing multiple bank accounts 

• Overpaying on taxes

What Can an Attorney Do to Help Discover Financial Fraud During Child Support Negotiations? 

An experienced Illinois child support attorney has seen spouses hide income and assets in many different ways, and will be on the lookout for signs of suspicious financial activity. Using the discovery process, an attorney can request financial information from a parent and look for any discrepancies or signs of dishonesty. An attorney can also request a deposition, which is testimony given under oath outside of court. Lying during a deposition can result in serious legal consequences. When confronted with the possibility of being held in contempt of court, fines, and even jail time for unpaid child support, many people will come clean and pay the appropriate amount of child support. 

Call a Wheaton, IL Child Support Lawyer

If you need help with any child support issues, you can count on the DuPage County child support attorneys at The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C.. We have helped many parents who are struggling to get child support to recover the funds to which they are legally entitled. Call us today to schedule your confidential consultation. You can contact us at 630-462-9500 and set up a meeting on the phone or in person. 

Source: 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+V&ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=6200000&SeqEnd=8675000