We have previously written that Georgia authorities have a reputation for being tough when it comes to child support enforcement. While it is ordinarily state law enforcement which initiates crackdowns on parents who have long-since failed to pay child support, the federal government has recently decided to enact its own campaign. The first step being taken is the launch of a website designed to solicit the aid of the public in tracking down high-priority "deadbeat parents."

The website was recently launched by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). It effectively functions as a "most-wanted" list of individuals who are delinquent in paying large amounts of child support. Generally, list members include those who have gone missing in order to avoid payment and those who are more than a year behind on their support.

The site serves two primary purposes:

  • Provide information on the most wanted, including pictures and other identifying information
  • Allow the public to submit tips and relevant information to the OIG

Generally, the federal government stays out of child support matters. However, parents fall under the federal jurisdiction if they:

  • Fail to pay support for more than a year
  • Live in a different state than their children and owe more than $5,000
  • Leave the country in an attempt to evade child support obligations

The OIG Deputy Inspector General for Investigations recently said: "OIG agents tirelessly pursue fugitives who skip out on their court-ordered child support payments. We have a global reach. We will find you so you can be held accountable for meeting your responsibilities to your children."

Over the past six years, the OIG has convicted over 500 parents seriously delinquent on their support. The office has high hopes that enlisting the aid of the public will allow them to bring even more so-called deadbeat parents to justice.

Source: Office of the Inspector General, "OIG Launches Child Support Enforcement Web Page: Introduces 'most wanted' list of deadbeat parents," news release, Jan. 17, 2012