How many bar owners in the Lone Star state are behind on child support payments? Apparently, there are enough evaders that the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) feels the need to start cracking down on the issue.
A TABC press release states that the commission is now suspending the license to serve alcohol if the license holder is delinquent with child support payments. The Office of the Attorney General already works with other state agencies, besides TABC, to suspend professional licenses and driver's licenses of parents who owe child support. Yet some Texas family law attorneys may argue that this new regulation is going a little too far.
This law, which is in accordance with Texas Family Code Section 232.011, is now new. But, only recently did a computer interface develop so that such a policy could be enforced. The Office of the Attorney General has asked TABC to take action against liquor license holders who owe more than three months of past-due child support and are not in compliance with an existing court-ordered or voluntary repayment schedule.
TABC Assistant Chief of Field Operations Dexter Jones says that "Paying child support is among the most basic and important responsibilities of a non-custodial parent. If a parent has the ability, but refuses to pay child support, that person should not be trusted with the responsibility of selling alcoholic beverages in a safe and legal manner."
Any bar owner who is in danger of losing their TABC license due to past due child support payments, should contact a Houston family law attorney to learn more about child support payment options. Texas family law attorneys may be able to help non-custodial parents lower their child support payment dues or establish a plan to pay off past due support.
Related Resources:
- State-Specific Child Support Information and Guidelines (FindLaw)
- Unpaid Child Support and Enforcement (FindLaw)
- Find a Houston Family Law Attorney (FindLaw)
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