New Hampshire House Bill HB618

New Hampshire 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/12/23
• Refer: 1/12/23
• Report Pass: 11/6/23
• Engrossed: 2/26/24
• Refer: 2/26/24
• Refer: 4/25/24

Caption

Relative to wage garnishment with child support payments.

Impact

The proposed changes to the law emphasize better communication between the courts and the parties involved in child support cases. By requiring courts to notify both parties about the automatic nature of wage garnishment and developing a standard form to clarify payment arrangements, the bill seeks to minimize disputes over payments and improve compliance with child support obligations. This could potentially lead to more consistent enforcement of child support orders, benefitting custodial parents and the financial stability of children.

Summary

House Bill 618 aims to amend existing laws regarding wage garnishment in cases involving child support payments. The bill introduces specific conditions under which wage garnishment will be automatically implemented unless both parties agree to an alternative arrangement. This automatic process is intended to streamline the system for handling child support payments and ensure that both parties are clear about their responsibilities from the outset of court proceedings.

Contention

While HB 618 primarily aims to improve the child support system, there may be concerns regarding how the automatic garnishment could affect non-custodial parents' financial situations. Critics might argue that automatic garnishment without considering individual circumstances could lead to undue hardship for some parents, particularly those already struggling financially or those who may have disagreements over payment amounts. The balance between ensuring child support compliance and protecting non-custodial parents from financial strain may be a point of contention during discussions surrounding this bill.