You and your spouse are in family court and must determine who will have physical custody of the children. During court, the judge determines your spouse should be designated as the “primary” parent for your child.  The court will award you a possession schedule but will also order you to pay child support. Unfortunately, over time, your ex-spouse begins preventing you from seeing your child. You consider stopping your payments as payback until you can see your child.

Do not stop your payments. If you don’t make your payments, you can wind up in legal trouble.

Do I have to Pay Child Support If I Have No Visitation Rights?

If your ex-spouse prevents you from seeing your child, the worst thing you could do is stop making child support payments. While you might do this as revenge against the custodial parent, this financial decision is considered a contempt of court and can send you to jail. These payments are a legal obligation to your child and not based on the condition that you get to see your child whenever you want.  The old adage rings true – two wrongs do not make a right.