Child Support..collecting back support??

Question

I am 36 yrsold and live in Texas. My dad never paid child support when I was growing up. There were 3 kids he was supposed to pay for and he never paid hardly anything. when my mom would find him and get his wages garnished he would find another job or work for cash. When I turned 18 I beleive he owed about 30-40 thousand. I have heard that I have the right to sue him for my part of that....does anyone know about this or how I would go about it??

Answer 1

my mother just got a judgment against my father after 26 years of him not paying child support what was in the same ball park as your father around 38,000 it turned into a judgment for nearly 250,000 after the courts added in intrest to the account. she started out with support kids they promptly dropped the case after it got hard so my mother got an attorney and filed the case here in florida. technically you have no right to any of the money from him your mother still had to pay your way to maturity and thus its all hers. i like you wanted to go after my father for pain and hardship i occured since he wasnt there, although i didnt do a formal check on it and most attornies will not touch a case like that unless you pay in advance seeings how your in uncharted territory. i wish you luck and i am including a link to support kids for your mother which wont charge her for anything up front. or your mother can go after the judgment with an attorney which can add the intrest to the case. in florida the interest was somthing like 6.5% per year

Answer 2

I'm afraid he's beaten the statue of limitations on this one honey. About two years ago, they passed a law that if a parent didn't pursue the child support order, the non custodial parent was no longer held accountable for thousands in arrears. Courts were willing to only go back three months prior to a filing for the claim.

However, this does not mean your dead beat dad isn't an exception to the rule under some grandfather clause. It's not likely but call your local child support department to find out for sure. I should also warn you that only in a few cases has the arrears ever gone directly to the grown children. It usually goes to the mother who supported those children all those years.

I hope you get some good news!

Answer 3

Unless the case went back to court to be closed then this case is still open, however the money is due to your mother for all the years that she supported you and kept a roof over your head. Your mother is the one that will have to contact the child support office to get some update and enforce the order... I don't know the details but I'm assuming he has no assets, no job, no bank accounts, no drivers license, probably working off the books and child support has not been able to locate him! ----All support obligations are judgments so hopefully one day he will come accross a settlement or win the lotto and all that money will be paid back to your mother....
Just make sure your mom contacts the child support office and have her inquire on the case.. There are many times that some cases just fall through the cracks and go unattended for years- Good luck!

Answer 4

Ok, theres no guarantee that you will ever collect a dime but here goes. If you know where hes residing or working at, then you can sue him in a court of law for child support overdo. Given your age and the probability if his, chances are even if you won in courtand he refuses to pay, the law couldnt/wouldnt do much to enforce the courts decision. But on the other hand he may figure hes caught and come forth giving each child their share. Now add in your time, atty fees, court costs, etc. this could be a costly venture with no guaranteed outcome. Good luck

Answer 5

actually i think that your mother should get all of the support. I would hope that you could not get any of it, is she the one who worked hard to put clothes on your back roof over your head food in your mouth? Look i am not trying to be sarcastic but I pay child support for my two kids they have only lived with dad for 3 years and the 11 years that they lived with me i took care of them without support from the dad, now i pay and he still pays nothing the system is real messed up, but i know how hard it was to take care of them without any help from the dad and if anyone deserves the money it is your mother. But if he has not paid and support so far you are probably just wasting your time.

Answer 6

Contact your states department of economic security (child support division) they will know the laws in Texas and be able to guide you through the process...

However what makes you think you wil ever see a dime of the money?? If he has run in the past what makes you think he will not run now??

Sometimes you have to admit the horse is dead and stop beating it with a stick..

Answer 7

I'd say just drop it. He didnt pay years ago so I highly dout he will pay now. Even if it is court ordered, so was the child support and never paid.

Answer 8

I think your mom is the one who needs to pursue this matter.

First, the original agreement was between them.

Second, the money is rightfully hers, the money would indirectly go to you kids but its also used more rent, clothing, groceries and house bills. She should get the lions portion.

Answer 9

You have every legal right to pursue him for it. Is it worth it. He proved to be a good for nothing bum all of your life, so he will get his. Go rent the movie Drumline. Powerful story of a boy whose dad was absent in his life. You'll love it.

Answer 10

my name is mark, call a friend of mine and she might be able to help you obtain an attorney at an affordable price, i only pay $17 a month, her name is Debbi 18664713782 or www.debbicarroll.com and tell her mark referred you