Avoiding Perjury and Sanctions

Family courts run on sworn papers. False statements, hidden income, and discovery games can trigger sanctions—or even criminal charges. The safest path is full, timely, and accurate disclosure backed by documents. Here’s how to keep your credibility and avoid penalties that derail your child support case.

Understand “under penalty of perjury.” When you sign a financial affidavit or declaration, you swear the contents are true to the best of your knowledge. If you intentionally misstate income, omit bank accounts, or fabricate receipts, the court can impose monetary sanctions, strike your pleadings, draw adverse inferences, or refer the matter for prosecution. Even “soft” dishonesty—guessing rather than calculating—hurts credibility and outcomes.

Disclose all income. Include wages, tips, side gigs, cash jobs, bonuses, commissions, stock, crypto, rental income, and recurring gifts. For self‑employment, disclose gross receipts and legitimate business expenses with proof. If you forget an income source, amend promptly and explain. Judges forgive mistakes more than concealment.

Respect discovery. Answer interrogatories and document requests completely and on time. If a request is overbroad or seeks private data, object and propose a narrower scope or protective order; don’t ignore it. If you can’t meet a deadline, ask for a reasonable extension in writing. Keep proof of what you produced and when.

Social media and public claims. Don’t post statements that contradict your filings (“Just bought a new truck!” while claiming inability to pay). Opposing counsel will screenshot and use them. Align public representations with sworn statements—or, better, keep financial boasting offline until your case is resolved.

Sanctions you might face. Courts can order you to pay the other side’s attorney’s fees and costs, exclude your late evidence, or infer that missing records would have hurt your case. In extreme cases, contempt or referral to prosecutors can follow. For repeated abuse, judges may set strict evidence deadlines or appoint a discovery referee at your expense.

Course‑correcting. If you realize an error, file an amended affidavit and notify the other side. Bring corrected exhibits to the hearing and explain concisely: “I omitted a 1099 side job by mistake; here are the documents, and my revised worksheet.” Owning the mistake limits damage and preserves credibility.

Work with your lawyer—or get help. If represented, be brutally honest with your attorney; surprise disclosures in court are the worst path. If self‑represented, use self‑help centers to understand forms and deadlines so you don’t misstate out of confusion. Keep a running checklist for updates: new job, insurance changes, childcare costs, and parenting‑time shifts.

Bottom line. Tell the truth, back it with documents, and fix mistakes fast. Courts reward credibility—and punish gamesmanship—especially in support cases where the child’s needs are on the line.

Disclaimer: Educational information only; not legal advice. Penalties and procedures vary by state and change over time. Consult a licensed attorney.

Examples and safe practices. If you drive for tips, keep a daily log and deposit cash consistently so totals match bank records. For crypto holdings, disclose wallets and provide statements or transaction histories; volatility is not an excuse to omit assets. If a relative pays your rent temporarily, disclose the support and whether it will continue—courts assess current ability to pay, not just W‑2 income. Finally, read your declarations aloud before signing; hearing the words helps catch overstatements and missing context.