Colombia's Registry of Delinquent Child Support Debtors (REDAM) lists parents or guardians who fail to pay at least three child support installments, restricting their rights and procedures. This legal tool aims to protect children and vulnerable individuals, as seen in cases where family trips are disrupted by unpaid debts. Family court judges can initiate the process after proving non-compliance.
In Colombia, REDAM serves as a state database to register those who fail to meet child support obligations set by law, court, or conciliation. According to lawyer Ángela María Caicedo, this registry does not aim to emotionally punish but to safeguard dependents such as children, elderly adults, and vulnerable persons.
Registration requires at least three unpaid installments and must be initiated by family court judges, family commissioners, or defenders from the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF), always with evidence of non-compliance. Once listed, the debtor faces six key consequences: prohibition from contracting with the state, ineligibility for public office, challenges in buying or selling property, barriers to securing loans, reporting to credit bureaus, and restrictions on immigration procedures.
Caicedo shares the story of Mateo, a boy who nearly missed a trip to the sea because his father had months of outstanding child support payments. The mother struggled to cover essentials like school, food, and health while the father made empty promises. Another case involves María, who learned about the 'REDAM Effect': listed debtors cannot prevent their children's international travel without permission, but only after a legal process offering chances to comply.
The expert stresses that the process is not instantaneous and demands prior steps, such as legally establishing the support amount. 'The law does not chase parents. It protects children. But it only acts when you activate the process,' states Caicedo. This mechanism underscores parental responsibility, preventing defaults from disrupting family plans and minors' rights.
