What can a court do if it believes a person is intentionally underemploying themselves?

When a court suspects that an individual is intentionally underemploying themselves, it can impute income based on that person's potential earnings. This means the court will estimate what the individual could reasonably be expected to earn given their skills, experience, and the job market, rather than just considering their current, likely reduced earnings.

This approach aims to ensure that child support obligations reflect a fairer representation of the parent's financial capacity. Courts often take this action to prevent individuals from deliberately minimizing their income to escape or reduce financial responsibilities, particularly in relation to child support. By imputing income, the court ensures that the child’s needs are prioritized and that parents meet their obligations based on a realistic assessment of what they should be earning rather than what they choose to earn.

The other options provided do not address the concept of underemployment in the same effective way. For example, terminating child support obligations or increasing payments does not directly address the issue of intentional underemployment, and ordering a rehabilitation program may not be relevant unless there's additional context suggesting the individual requires such assistance.