Do you love to hunt or fish? If you enjoy one or both, you are probably well-aware that each activity in Pennsylvania requires a license. In this article, we’re going to discuss how recreational licenses like fishing and hunting can be restricted if a noncustodial parent is too far behind on their child support payments.
To obtain a Pennsylvania hunting license, for example, you have to be a resident of the state for at least 30 days. You cannot hunt without one because all Pennsylvania residents have to have a hunting license and they may be required to obtain additional permits.
Even non-residents have to obtain a non-resident hunting license and youth between the ages of 12 and 16 cannot hunt unless they purchase a “junior hunting license.” In Pennsylvania, once you obtain a hunting license, it’s supposed to be good from July 1 to June 30 of the following year.
Fishing Licenses in Pennsylvania
Do you need a license to fish in Pennsylvania? You sure do. In the state, all individuals age 16 and up are required to have a valid Pennsylvania fishing license for them to fish. Not only that, but you have to keep the fishing license on you in case you run into an officer and he or she asks to see it.
Now down to business: If you are ordered to pay child support and you skip payments, your recreational licenses may be denied, suspended or revoked under Pennsylvania law.
“All 50 states have statutory or administrative provisions authorizing the suspension or revocation of various licenses for failure to pay child support. The licenses affected generally are driver's, occupational, professional (e.g., law), business and recreational (e.g., hunting and fishing),” according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
So, what does the law say in Pennsylvania? Once a parent owes three months or more in child support arrears, their drivers, business, occupational, professional, and recreational licenses (e.g. hunting and fishing) can be suspended, revoked, or denied.
