What happens if I don't pay child support from India... anyone know?

Hey, so I’m in India and just found out my ex-wife got a default order for child custody in Maryland. I wasn’t even notified about it because she used the wrong address. Now I’m stuck with a child support order, but I honestly can’t afford to pay. What can happen if I don’t pay? I’m in India, so IDK if they can even do anything to me over here.

Wow, that sounds super unfair. But yeah, not paying could lead to things like wage garnishment or tax refund interception if you ever go back to the US. But since you’re in India, not sure how they can enforce it there.

@Clove
Yeah, I think they would have trouble enforcing it internationally unless there’s some agreement between the US and India. Still, it might cause problems if you ever travel or need to deal with US courts again.

If you weren’t properly notified, you could file to have that default order overturned. You might be able to get the child support and custody orders changed or nullified if you prove you didn’t get the proper notice.

@Foster
How do you go about filing for that? Is it a complicated process?

Clove said:
@Foster
How do you go about filing for that? Is it a complicated process?

It can be a bit tricky, but if you can show proof that you never got the notice, it could work in your favor. It might be worth getting a lawyer in the US to help with that process, even if you’re in India.

There are agencies in the US that offer pro bono services for cases like this. If you’re really stuck, you could try reaching out to some of those for help with challenging the order.

Imogen said:
There are agencies in the US that offer pro bono services for cases like this. If you’re really stuck, you could try reaching out to some of those for help with challenging the order.

I tried reaching out to a couple of places, but they said they can’t help because I’m not in Maryland. So frustrating.

@Sydney
Ah, that’s tough. You might need someone who can represent you remotely, or maybe find a lawyer who works with international cases. It’s worth asking around.

If you end up going back to the US at any point, they could make things difficult for you with the child support stuff. It’s better to deal with it sooner than later if you can.

Camila said:
If you end up going back to the US at any point, they could make things difficult for you with the child support stuff. It’s better to deal with it sooner than later if you can.

Yeah, I’ve heard of situations like this where they won’t let someone leave the country until child support is paid. Better to fix it now if possible.

Just be careful, man. Even though you’re in India, the US might still try to go after you for child support through international channels if you ever go back or need something like a visa.

Ann said:
Just be careful, man. Even though you’re in India, the US might still try to go after you for child support through international channels if you ever go back or need something like a visa.

Wait, can they actually do that? How would they even go about it if you’re in India?

@Clove
I’m not 100% sure, but they might use international enforcement laws or agreements to go after unpaid child support. It could be more complicated than you think.