Felony nonsupport charges are increasing in Michigan
by Divorce Attorneys of Michigan on 11/03/10
Not Paying Child Support Becomes a Felony in Michigan!!!!!!!!
In Michigan both parents owe a duty to support their children. It doesn’t matter if the absent parent resides in the State of Michigan or outside the State of Michigan. It is a crime in Michigan not to pay your child support. Michigan Attorney General relies upon the following two Michigan criminal statutes to prosecute those who fail to pay child support:
A. MCL 750.161 Read
750.161 Desertion, abandonment, or refusal or neglect to provide shelter, food, care, and clothing; felony; penalty; bond; probation; failure to comply with conditions in bond; forfeiture of bond; disposition of sums received; continuing offense; proof.
Sec. 161.
(1) A person who deserts and abandons his or her spouse or deserts and abandons his or her children under 17 years of age, without providing necessary and proper shelter, food, care, and clothing for them, and a person who being of sufficient ability fails, neglects, or refuses to provide necessary and proper shelter, food, care, and clothing for his or her spouse or his or her children under 17 years of age, is guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in a state correctional facility for not less than 1 year and not more than 3 years, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 3 months and not more than 1 year.
B· MCL 750.165
750.165 Refusing to support wife or children as required by court order; violation as felony; penalty; exception; suspension of sentence; bond; "state disbursement unit" or "SDU" defined.
Sec. 165.
(1) If the court orders an individual to pay support for the individual's former or current spouse, or for a child of the individual, and the individual does not pay the support in the amount or at the time stated in the order, the individual is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or by a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.