Child Support Enforcement Update from County Attorney's Office

 On May 24th, 2025 the Jackson County Attorney's Office posted the following message to their social media site: "The failure of a parent to pay child support is a failure of the most fundamental and basic responsibilities of a person who chooses to bring a child into this world. 

THIS IS A WARNING! You have 30 days to get your case into compliance. After that, if you are not making regular monthly payments in full on your child support obligation and you are $2,500.00 or more delinquent on your child support obligation, you can expect felony criminal charges to be filed against you from my office. 
NCPs!! You have two (2) choices! Either pay your child support or we will do our best to send you to prison!" 

On June 07th, 2025 the Jackson County Attorney's Office posted a follow-up message and a second warning. The message was as follows: 
"SECOND WARNING!! The issuance of child support warrants has begun. So far we've prepared 5 criminal complaints and 4 warrants have been issued. It has taken a bit of time for my child support office to modify enforcement procedures, but we are now preparing to submit warrant requests every day. If you already owe more than $2,500.00 and are not paying your court ordered child support, you can expect criminal charges to come your way. If you owe less than this, then don't let it get above the $2,500.00 mark. Even if you owe more than $2,500.00, if you haven't been served yet, there is probably still time for you to get your name off our black list by making your child support payments. If you do nothing, your time is coming. So we suggest you do what is right and pay for the support of those innocent children you brought into this world." 

On July 02[nd], 2025, the Jackson County Attorney's Office posted a Child Support Enforcement Update reporting that the office is receiving phone calls from individuals upset and concerned about the fact that they now have felony warrants for flagrant nonsupport under KRS 530.050(2). 

The County Attorney's Office responded that if you want to avoid a warrant, the best thing is to contact their child support office and talk to the staff about what you can do to keep it from happening to you. Ignoring your obligations to your children and the Commonwealth of Kentucky will result in nothing but misery. Call us or drop in and start paying! 
Jackson County Child Support 
160 Water Street West 
McKee, KY 40447 
(606) 287-5219 

The County Attorney also extended a hand to help those who may be struggling themselves, resulting in a lack of ability to provide child support. The County Attorney reported, "Even if you are arrested, if you are on drugs and want help, we will try to get you help. Your stabilization and transition into being a productive member of society is in everyone's best interest. Your child needs YOU, not just your money." 

For those who are interested in what the law says regarding Nonsupport and/or Flagrant Nonsupport, it can be found in KRS 530.050. It is provided here for those interested. 

530.050 Nonsupport and flagrant nonsupport. 
(1) A person is guilty of nonsupport: 
(a) When he or she persistently fails to provide support which he or she can 
reasonably provide and which the person knows he or she has a duty to 
provide to a minor, a child adjudged mentally disabled, an indigent spouse, or 
indigent parent; or 
(b) Upon a finding that a defendant obligor, subject to court order to pay any 
amount for the support of a minor child, is delinquent in meeting the full 
obligation established by the court order, and has been delinquent for a period 
of at least two (2) months duration. 
(2) A person is guilty of flagrant nonsupport when he or she persistently fails to provide 
support which he or she can reasonably provide and which the person knows he or 
she has a duty to provide by virtue of a court or administrative order to a minor, a 
child adjudged mentally disabled, an indigent spouse, or indigent parent, and the 
failure results in: 
(a) An arrearage of not less than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500); or 
(b) Six (6) consecutive months without payment of support; or 
(c) The dependent having been placed in destitute circumstances. For the 
purposes of this paragraph, it shall be prima facie evidence that a dependent 
has been placed in destitute circumstances if the dependent is a recipient of 
public assistance as defined in KRS 205.010. 
(3) A person has a duty to provide support for an indigent spouse, a minor child or 
children, or a child or children adjudged mentally disabled and, for purposes of this 
section, is presumed to know of that duty. 
(4) Any person who is eighteen (18) years of age or over, residing in this state and 
having in this state a parent who is destitute of means of subsistence and unable 
because of old age, infirmity, or illness to support himself or herself, has a duty to 
provide support for such parent and, for purposes of this section, is presumed to 
know of that duty. 
(5) Nonsupport is a Class A misdemeanor. For a second offense, the person shall 
receive a minimum sentence of seven (7) days in jail. For a third or any subsequent 
offense, the person shall receive a minimum sentence of thirty (30) days in jail. 
(6) Flagrant nonsupport is a Class D felony.