In most cases, no. A creditor cannot have you jailed for nonpayment of debts (for example, a credit card bill). However, there are several circumstances where someone who owes money to others could be placed in jail for nonpayment. The first is when someone is convicted of tax evasion or willfully refusing to pay income taxes. The second is when someone willfully violates a court order, such as an order to pay child support and/or alimony to an ex-spouse.
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