23.06.2014 Views

Child Support Enforcement - Sarpy County Nebraska

Child Support Enforcement - Sarpy County Nebraska

Child Support Enforcement - Sarpy County Nebraska

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

incarceration is a possibility, does require some safeguards to prevent the erroneous<br />

deprivation of liberty. South Carolina Supreme Court reversed and remanded.<br />

‣ To determine whether a right to counsel is required here, opposing interests and the<br />

probable value of “additional or substitute procedural safeguards” must be taken into<br />

account.<br />

‣ An available set of procedural safeguards, if employed together, can significantly<br />

reduce the risk of an erroneous deprivation of liberty. These include:<br />

(1) notice to the defendant that his “ability to pay” is a critical issue in the contempt<br />

proceeding;<br />

(2) the use of a form (or the equivalent) to elicit relevant financial information from<br />

him;<br />

(3) an opportunity at the hearing for him to respond to statements and questions<br />

about his financial status; and<br />

(4) an express finding by the court that the defendant has the ability to pay.<br />

‣ The record indicates that Turner received neither counsel nor the benefit of<br />

alternative procedures like those we have described. He did not receive clear notice<br />

that his ability to pay would constitute the critical question in his civil contempt<br />

proceeding. No one provided him with aform (or the equivalent) designed to elicit<br />

information about his financial circumstances. The court did not find that Turner was<br />

able to pay his arrearage, but instead left the relevant “finding” section of the<br />

contempt order blank. The court nonetheless found Turner in contempt and ordered<br />

him incarcerated. Under these circumstances Turner’s incarceration violated the<br />

Due Process Clause.<br />

‣ This decision does not address civil contempt proceedings where the underlying<br />

support payment is owed to the State. (likely in such matters the right of an indigent<br />

NCP to court appointed counsel would be guaranteed.)<br />

Duty to <strong>Support</strong>; Duration of <strong>Support</strong><br />

§42-371.01 Duty to pay child support; termination, when; procedure; State Court<br />

Administrator; duties.<br />

(1) An obligor’s duty to pay child support for a child terminates when (a) the child<br />

reaches nineteen years of age, (b) the child marries, (c) the child dies, or (d) the child is<br />

emancipated by a court of competent jurisdiction, unless the court order for child support<br />

specifically extends child support after such circumstances.<br />

(2) The termination of child support does not relieve the obligor from the duty to pay<br />

any unpaid child support obligations owed or in arrears.<br />

(3) The obligor may provide written application for termination of a child support order<br />

when the child being supported reaches nineteen years of age, marries, dies, or is otherwise<br />

emancipated. The application shall be filed with the clerk of the district court where child<br />

support was ordered. A certified copy of the birth certificate, marriage license, death certificate,<br />

- 56 -

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!