Felony Non-Support of Dependents Defense in Northeast Ohio

Under Ohio law, a person may be charged with non-support of dependents if they fail to provide court-ordered child support for a significant period of time. These charges often arise after a long period of unpaid support, missed payments under a court order, enforcement action by the child support enforcement agency, or referral of the case for criminal prosecution.

In some situations, the offense may be charged as a felony, depending on the length of time and circumstances involved. A fifth-degree felony is possible when support has not been paid for a cumulative period of 26 out of 104 weeks, or when the arrearage reaches a certain threshold.

Non-support cases often involve complex circumstances that matter to the outcome. Changes in employment or income, health problems, misunderstandings about support obligations, disputes about payments or arrears, and genuine efforts to catch up on payments are all relevant to how the case unfolds.

A careful review of the history of the support order, the payment record, the circumstances during the period in question, and any documentation of good-faith efforts is often essential to building an effective defense or presenting mitigating circumstances to the court.

The Law Office of Yu Mi Kim-Reynolds represents individuals charged with non-support of dependents in Medina County, Wayne County, and surrounding Northeast Ohio courts.