Justice and Attorney General - News release
Greater enforcement of family support (05/05/25)
NB 624, May 25, 2005
FREDERICTON (CNB) - Stronger enforcement measures contained in new legislation will help put more money
into the hands of parents and children who receive family support. Justice Minister Brad Green introduced
the new Support Enforcement Act in the legislature today.
"Children need love and support from both parents, especially after their parents separate or divorce,"
Green said. "This new legislation will help ensure a dependable flow of support payments to families to help
children grow up happy and healthy."
In New Brunswick, most payers of family support voluntarily make their payments. For those who can pay
but do not, the legislation includes a series of new enforcement options to promote greater compliance
including:
- Getting better information to locate payers, and determine their ability to pay;
- Charging interest on late payments, providing an incentive to pay on time and in full;
- Accessing money owing to payers from sources other than employers;
- Accessing funds from payers' bank accounts;
- Forcing unco-operative employers to forward employment income to the program;
- Preventing payers from shielding money or assets in family-owned companies;
- Reporting delinquent payers to credit reporting agencies; and
- Suspending drivers' licences.
The Department of Justice collects payments from parents who owe support through the Family Support
Orders Service, uses enforcement measures to make certain that those who are required to pay do so, and
ensures that support money gets to children and their custodial parents.
In 2004-05, the department collected $33.6 million out of $43.1 million owed in support payments or about
78 per cent.
05/05/25
MEDIA CONTACT: Gary Toft, communications, Justice, 506-453-6543.
05/05/25
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