Austin Family Law Blog

Child Support Alert – No Garnishment from Second Federal Stimulus for Past-Due Child Support

by | Jan 20, 2021 | Child Custody

If you were behind on your child support payments and you were issued federal stimulus funds during the first stimulus in 2020, you may not have received the full, or any, stimulus issued to you because the State of Texas had the right to garnish from the stimulus any past-due child support you owed. You should have received an “offset notice” from the IRS if this happened to you.

That is not the case with the second stimulus authorized by Congress at the end of December 2020. Past-due child support will not be garnished from the second stimulus.

All second stimulus payments were issued as of January 15, 2021, and no further second stimulus payments will be issued. If you have not received a second stimulus payment, but believe you qualify to receive a second stimulus payment, it may be in the mail. You can check the status of your second stimulus here:  https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment.

A third stimulus or similar economic relief package is anticipated in the coming weeks with the new Congress. We will issue an updated alert regarding the effect on your past-due child support obligations at that time.

You may also refer to the Office of the Attorney General of Texas’ Child Support Division references here:  https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/child-support/covid19/your-child-support-and-federal-stimulus-payment

You Can Have a Child-centered Divorce

You Can Have a Child-centered Divorce

Divorce is tough, whether you've been married for one year or twenty-five. But you want to reduce the traumatic effects on everyone involved so your family can move on to a better future. And most of all, parents want to do their best not to hurt their children. Even...

read more
Just Say Yes

Just Say Yes

FROM JODI It was almost 5:30am on Thursday, March 2. I had just finished a 3-day custody trial in Austin the day before. I had prepared for trial the week prior and had sent my life partner of 7 years, Dennis Ackerman, to our Dallas apartment so I could prepare for...

read more
Austin Business Journal – People on the Move

Austin Business Journal – People on the Move

Jodi Lazar, Family Attorney at Lazar Law, recognized for Women's History Month. Jodi’s passion is helping people navigate change while embracing uncertainty. Her firm explored the need for remote work and has expanded the pool of eligible team members to include...

read more