How far behind does a dad have to fall in child support before anything is done?

Question

My ex-husband quit his job as soon as he found out the court ordered an increase in child support. Now he's drawing unemployment and I have only gotten one check in the past 4 months. How far behind can he get before anything gets done, and what do I do? I've tried calling him and he won't return my calls.

I have them the majority of the time and he is ordered to pay very little (barely covers school lunches weekly), and he takes them 4 days a month (when he doesn't cancle) so I think he's getting off easy. It takes 2 to make them AND 2 to take care of them.

Answer 1

Call the family court enforcement officer. They can answer all of your questions as to what you can do and how long he can get away with it. There are also websites now where you can post his picture and information.

Answer 2

You should file with the DA to have them go after hime for child support. This way they will use collection tactics within the law. They will bring him to court for the back owed child support.

I will warn you, dont expect much. my husband has been trying to collect support from his ex wife for 11 years now. She has constantly dodged court orders and the DA hasnt done much of anything.

They have not done much to try and get her to pay. Court hearings would be once in a while when someone complainted enough. According to the DA the are so backed up in cases they pick and choose which ones to go after.

We basically have given up...

I will also warn you..I have a few friends that used one of those child support collection agencies that you see advertisted on TV or the net. They have fees associated with the collection of the money. The unfortunate thing is it can be upwards of 14%. Some people cant afford that being taken out of child support payments and rightfully so..

Answer 3

This is a hot topic as of late. Unfortunately unless the state is a garnished state ( like NJ) that takes the money right out of his/her paycheck for the support order there really is not much you can do. What I would do is contact the courts to see what your rights are and what can be done. If just putting him in jail is the only thing - I would do it - however do it as a warning to him that he needs to get on the ball with support or else start spending alot more time there. Yes it will hurt you with getting any money from him, but then he will not be working to get money either and he has more to lose. Be the better person and just keep doing what you are for those children. When they get older they will come to know who truly cares for them and wants to be with them. Seriously- find out your rights and what can be done and then act on them.

Answer 4

You need to take him to court. My ex did this and he lived with his mother so he wasn't on the streets or anything. I dont know where you live but in my state everything is online on what you can do. Sort of a self-help service. You should check that out

Answer 5

1 payment. Call the Clerk of Superior Court in your county to get the ball rolling. Some states revoke the persons drivers license, or arrest them.

Answer 6

First of all, if he quit, he wouldn't be receiving unemployment. Have you notified the Support Agency that he is rec unem? That might help, they are not always notified of this. If he is rec unem most enforcement remodies have to stay idle. So once he starts to work or runs out of unemployment they should be able to do more enforcement for you.

Answer 7

Notify the child support office. My parents are divorced, and my dad has not paid child support for my two youngest sisters in six months. He filed his income tax and his refund was garnished and sent to my mom. I think this was done because the office was notified, so let them know! It might depend on what state you live on.

Answer 8

dont call him call the DA's office. they will do something about it, they will take away his liciense and throw him in jail. dont feel bad, he isnt feeling bad about your baby. my sons dad is 50,000. on the hole and they took away his drivers license and threw him in jail but it doesnt work. it is going up and up. it has been about three or four years since I have seen a check from him. if he gets unemployment you will get a check from that. if he gets some sort of settlement then you will see money from there too. but dont hold your breathe. my suggestion is to bug the DA or child support divsion.good luck. you can also call supportkids.com. they helped me get a payment of over $2000. but they take out a percentage. good luck.

Answer 9

I concur with Junebug. Or go to court immediately.

Answer 10

yes it does take two, ignore the IGNORANT people, they dont have a clue...

and since child support is based upon BOTH parents incomes, to lower it, BOTH parents support the child(ren). if he is skilled, the child support should stay the same because of what he is capable of earning.

well, the honor system doesnt work, thats been proven. him quitting his job is a common trick they play; laid off, quit, fired, etc.

they play lots of games; but the days of hiding til the child(ren) are 18, are over... today, arrears are forever. and child support (in most states) continues til the child is done college... and child support gets a cost of living increase every 2-4 (depending upon the state) years.

there is no worming out of it, and you've gone FAR TOO LONG WITH NO SUPPORT.

seems to me, you need some heat on your case. seems to me, you need to write a letter too.

1) call your caseworker and ask:
--where you apply for interest on the arrears?
--was the case submitted for tax refund intercept?
--was the arrears reported to the credit reporting agencies yet?

2) sit down and write a letter. in it, give your contact info, case number, his info, arrears amount, him quitting his job (with the same time period of child support being ordered) and ask them what they are doing about it. tell them there has been no payment for FOUR MONTHS. ask them why a lien is not been placed on his bank accounts, his drivers license taken (hes not working anyway), warrant put on him for non compliance, etc. tell them you respectfully request the state and federal child support laws be applied to your case.

keep the letter short, its more effective.

then take that ONE letter and FAX it to the following:
a) your states Attorney General (link is below)
b) your states Governor (link is below)
c) your states Regional FEDERAL Child Support Office (link is below)

phone calls are useless; they are ignored, denied and forgotten. mail ends up on someones "to do" pile, but FAXES are effective. its proof you sent it and proof they recieved it, therefor, they HAVE to address it. if you cant find a fax number (most are listed online) then just call them and ask for it.

if you hear nothing in a week, fax them again. fax them weekly if need be. its the squeaky wheel that gets the oil, if ya know what i mean.

even if you miff 'em off, just keep at them, weekly if need be.

if they put him in jail, its just a short stay, til they cough up a chunk of cash (from friend, family, neighbor, new gf, who cares who). NOT released for the full amount, but it beats nothing.

some links for you; just click on your state and find the subject you need.

CHILD SUPPORT CALCULATORS
http://www.divorcelawinfo.com/calculators.htm
http://www.alllaw.com/calculators/childsupport/
http://www.helpyourselfdivorce.com/child-support-calculators.html


LAWS
http://www.divorcehq.com/spprtgroups.html
http://www.divorceinfo.com/statebystate.htm
http://www.divorcenet.com/states
http://www.divorcesource.com/
http://www.divorcesource.com/info/deadbeat/deadbeat.shtml
http://www.divorcecentral.com/
http://family.findlaw.com/
http://family.findlaw.com/child-support/unpaid-support/support-orders-enforcement.html
http://www.divorcehq.com/deadbeat.html
http://www.divorceinfo.com/
http://www.divorceinanutshell.com/
http://www.lawchek.com/Library1/_books/domestic/qanda/childsupp.htm
http://family.findlaw.com/child-support/support-laws/state-child-/
http://www.supportguidelines.com/resources.html
http://www.supportguidelines.com/links.html
http://www.supportguidelines.com/laypersons.html
http://www.supportguidelines.com/articles/news.html
http://family.findlaw.com/child-support/support-basics/
http://www.spiesonline.net/deadbeat.shtml
http://www.childsupport-aces.org/index2.html

STATS
http://www.childsupport-aces.org/acesstatistics.html

FINDING DEADBEATS
(and background cks to find them)
http://www.usarecordssearch.com/
http://deadbeatsnitch.com/
http://www.wantedposters.com/skiptrace.htm
http://find.intelius.com/search-name.php?ReportType=1&
http://omnitrace.com/Missing-Persons-Search.html?OVRAW=deadbeat&OVKEY=deadbeat&OVMTC=standard
http://www.discreetdata.com/index.html
http://www.identitycrawler.net/people_search.html
http://www.peoplefinders.com
http://zabasearch.com/
http://www.crimcheck.com/personalreports.htm
http://www.easybackgroundchecks.com/
http://www.abika.com/
http://www.freeprf.com/
http://www.efindoutthetruth.com/
http://www.netsleuth.com/
http://netonlineinvestigators.com/index.asp
http://www.backgroundcheckgateway.com/
http://www.backgroundcheckgateway.com/locate-people.html


FED AGENCIES
http://www.ncsea.org/
http://www.nfja.org/index.shtml
http://www.naag.org/issues/issue-consumer.php

REGIONAL FEDERAL CHILD SUPPORT OFFICES
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/oro/regions/acf_regions.html

FACTS AND REGIONAL FEDERAL CS OFFICE INFO
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/fct/fct4.htm
http://www.divorcesource.com/WI/ARTICLES/beaulier11.html
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/opa/fact_sheets/cse_factsheet.html
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/newhire/index.html
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/faq.html
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/newhire/fop/passport.htm
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/newhire/fop/fop.htm
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/newhire/faq/faq.htm
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.html
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/grants/grants_cse.html
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/index.html
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/region2/index.html
http://www.fms.treas.gov/faq/offsets_childsupport.html
http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal
http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/
http://www.fedworld.gov/gov-links.html
http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/pfs92/ch3.htm

SSI AND CHILD SUPPORT
http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/policybriefs/pb2004-02.html
http://www.ssa.gov/notices/supplemental-security-income/
http://family.findlaw.com/

FIND YOUR STATE REPS
http://www.usa.gov/
http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/State_and_Territories.shtml
http://www.nga.org
http://www.naag.org/attorneys_general.php

CHILD SUPPORT LIEN NETWORK
(some states work with them)
http://www.childsupportliens.com/

COLLECTORS
http://www.supportkids.com/
http://www.supportcollectors.com/faq.php
http://www.deadbeatdadfinders.com/
http://www.deadbeatdadfinders.com/links.html
http://www.childsupport-aces.org/index2.html
http://www.divorcesource.com/info/deadbeat/deadbeat.shtml

TAX INFO
http://www.taxsites.com/index.htm
http://www.divorceinfo.com/taxes.htm
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc354.html
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc422.html
http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq4-5.html
http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html
http://www.irs.gov/advocate/index.html
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p525/index.html

http://www.fms.treas.gov/faq/offsets_childsupport.html
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p504/ar02.html#d0e563
http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/14/pf/taxes/do_not_miss_tax_breaks/index.htm?postversion=2007021411

REPORT DEADBEATS
WORKING UNDER THE TABLE
(in writing, to your local and federal IRS offices)
http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html
http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=106778,00.html

SEX OFFENDERS
http://www.mapsexoffenders.com/
http://www.scanusa.com/
http://www.nsopr.gov/
http://www.familywatchdog.us/Default.asp