Whats a purge amount?

A purge amount is an amount of money that must be paid toward child support arrearages in order to avoid going to jail for contempt of a support order.

What does a purge amount mean in child support?

A purge amount is an amount of money that must be paid toward child support arrearages in order to avoid going to jail for contempt of a support order. Because punishment is not the purpose of civil contempt proceedings, a court must allow the contemnor (person in arrears of ordered support) an opportunity to “purge” himself or herself of contempt.

How does a purge payment work in court?

Typically, the court will sentence him to incarceration but allow him to purge himself of contempt if he makes a lump sum payment within a certain period of time. If he does not comply, a bench warrant will be issued for his arrest and he will have to serve his sentence until he pays the purge amount.

What to do before a child support contempt hearing?

Therefore, prior to a hearing on contempt, it is not only important for you to talk to an attorney about the process and a likely purge amount, but also your friends and family if you are unable to pay an amount in excess of your monthly support at the time of the hearing.

Do you have to pay purge at commitment hearing?

In any event, pay what you can. At the very least, it will show good faith when you appear at the commitment hearing, and perhaps result in an amendment to the purge in the nature of a payment plan. Bring your bank statements, income statements, and employer to the commitment hearing. Each judge is different.

A purge amount is an amount of money that must be paid toward child support arrearages in order to avoid going to jail for contempt of a support order. Because punishment is not the purpose of civil contempt proceedings, a court must allow the contemnor (person in arrears of ordered support) an opportunity to “purge” himself or herself of contempt.

Therefore, prior to a hearing on contempt, it is not only important for you to talk to an attorney about the process and a likely purge amount, but also your friends and family if you are unable to pay an amount in excess of your monthly support at the time of the hearing.

In any event, pay what you can. At the very least, it will show good faith when you appear at the commitment hearing, and perhaps result in an amendment to the purge in the nature of a payment plan. Bring your bank statements, income statements, and employer to the commitment hearing. Each judge is different.

What happens if a father fails to pay child support?

The father is incarcerated by the judge and forced to make a purge payment on the child support owed in order to be released. Scenario 2: The father is required to pay child support. Due to no fault of his own, he loses his job and can no longer afford the amount he was supposed to pay.