When parents in Louisiana who don't have custody of their children fall behind on their child support payments, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services isn't willing to forgive the debt.

In December 2011, the agency's collection team brought in more than $74,000 from non-paying parents. In addition, state officials arrested 126 people for non-payment. Combined, those people owed $1.1 million at the time of their arrests.

Of the amount collected, more than $33,000 went to overdue payments. Collection of the other $41,000 resulted in collecting final support payments, therefore closing files on some parents.

The agency director said that the agency relies on the help of law enforcement to collect any money due. Statewide, police departments, sheriff's branches and parish district attorneys work to collect the late payments.

In all, the noncustodial parents in the state owe close to $1.2 billion in child support. In 2011, the Department of Children & Family Services brought in more than $385 million in child support.

It also implemented non-traditional ways to collect child support last year. The state tapped into casino earnings when a noncustodial parent won more than $1,200. It took more than $7.4 million from money paid in claims pertaining to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill off the Louisiana coastline.

Officials of the Department of Children & Family Services said that families receiving prompt support payments use public assistance, such as welfare, less often. They also don't rely on assistance programs for food or emergency cash as frequently as parents who cannot count on steady payments.

If one cannot afford to make payments, a modification of an award can be achieved through court. But simply stopping payments is never advisable, because of the consequences described above.

Source: KATC, "State collects more than $74,000 from deadbeat parents," Tonya LaCoste, Jan. 23, 2012