Florida Child Support: Why You Should Never Lie About Your Income

We all know that it’s against the law to lie under oath, but what does that really mean? What could happen if a spouse showed dishonesty when disclosing income related to a child support case?

It would probably be fair to say that many divorce and child support proceedings are laden with emotion following a turbulent breakup. With hurt, pain, and uncertainty in the future, it’s not uncommon for a spouse to put him or herself in a better light. Highlighting strength of character, parenting skills, and career is an acceptable way to shine some light on the good. But when an individual bends the truth in a child custody case, we raise the red flag.

Part of any legal proceedings in the United States involves an individual affirming to be honest and truthful before taking the stand. In addition, documents signed in the court proceedings affirm that the signer will face a penalty of perjury if he or she submitted false information. Our judicial system takes lying and perjury seriously.

When the judge catches on and realizes that a spouse is misrepresenting him or herself, you can be assured that key questions will ensue, and credibility concerns will come into play before the judge makes a ruling.

Spousal income plays an important role in determining the amount of child support a parent will pay. A spouse who submits false information in case documents or lies under oath is committing a federal crime. The judge of the civil case may decide on a penalty or may send the case to a separate criminal court and ultimately, the individual may be faced with hefty fines, probation, and/or jail or prison time.

If you believe your spouse has been deceitful in legal proceedings, you will need to decide if you’re willing to give your spouse an opportunity to correct the misstep by requesting a correction of any misleading information. Otherwise, you will need to show evidence that refutes the spouse’s bogus information. To uncover evidence, an experienced attorney may decide to subpoena the spouse’s bank statements, tax returns, work pay stubs, or hire a private investigator.

If you have questions about child custody or believe that your spouse has been deceitful in legal proceedings, our experienced attorneys can help answer your questions. Our compassionate attorneys provide private complementary consultations. For more information, contact us at Troy Legal, (561) 910-4570.

Troy Legal, P.A. was founded in 2009 and serves clients throughout South Florida. Troy Legal, P.A., specializes in Marital and Family Law, providing reputable legal services for prenuptial and co-habitation agreements, paternity cases, adoption matters, alimony and child support, time sharing and parenting plans, drafting of qualified domestic relations orders (qdros), mediation services, equitable distributions, collaborative law, post-judgement modification and enforcement, domestic violence cases, and dissolution of marriage or divorce. Troy Legal, P.is dedicated to serving clients through compassionate and aggressive representation, while upholding the highest degree of ethical standards.