Do you hold a professional license? If you’re a real estate agent, an accountant, a doctor or nurse, a veterinarian, a teacher, a notary, or the possessor of another professional or license, you may not know it but your livelihood may be at risk if you fall behind on your child support payments.
You see, all 50 states have enacted laws that cancel, revoke or suspend the licenses of non-custodial parents who fail to pay child support. The types of licenses that are generally affected include driver licenses, professional licenses, business licenses, occupational licenses, and recreational licenses (think hunting and fishing).
Each state has established the threshold that has to be met before it suspends a parent’s licenses. Once that threshold has been met, due process rights are activated. The parent must receive notice of the intention to suspend their licenses and they’re given a set period of time to pay off their arrears in full, enter into a payment arrangement, or request a hearing to contest the allegations against them.
Colorado Law Regarding License Suspensions
In Colorado, license suspensions are triggered after a non-custodial parent owes six months of past-due child support while paying less than 50% of their monthly support obligation each month. License suspensions are also activated when parents fail to comply with a warrant for their arrest or a subpoena.
Once the obligor receives notice of the intention to suspend their licenses, he or she has 30 days to request an administrative review and this must be done in writing. The types of licenses that can be suspended in Colorado for failure to pay child support include:
- Driver licenses
- Occupational licenses
- Professional licenses
- Recreational licenses
Colorado is one of a handful of states that allows parents to obtain a temporary driver license if a license suspension would cause undue hardship for the obligor. In many cases, the obligor will be allowed to travel for work-related purposes so they can earn the money they need to pay their arrears. But they must seek this privilege from the court.
Related: Can I Stop Paying Child Support if I Can’t See My Kids?
Need a Denver child support attorney to help you resolve a child support case or ask for a modification? If so, contact Jones Law Firm, P.C. for assistance.
