jail time for non support?

Question

I Already know that people are thinking im a deadbeat so just get it out of your system then maybe answer the question. I agreed in my divorce decree to pay 550 a month for two kids. I was willing and able to pay it at the time. I love my kids and would give them a million if I could.

i hurt my arm really bad and have since( 3 years off and on) had a hard time paying my support. im now behind 10000 on it. I was arrested recently and paid a bond to get out of jail. I want to care for the kids but at this point I just cant hardly keep a job and pay support. im going to take two jobs at fast food places in order to try to catch up.

I have an arraignment soon and I was wondering if you thought i would spend jail time. this is my first offense of ANY kind at all. im a generally "good citizen" and i dont break the law. im going to bring some more money with me to put towards the back owed money and like i said ill try to have two jobs before i go to court

Answer 1

Y&ou have to have money to file for a reduction in support!

They system is set up wrong to handle child support. The only reason a state gets in on the deal is because they get 2 1/2 % of the take!

Now, I agree that you need to pay child support. I have paid over 800 per month for mine, but my x wife and i have an agreement, and that was for her not to go to the state with it.

She now gets more if i have it, and if i was hurt, the state has no interest in it! And i did go throughn this, I had to change professions from an injury, and my income lacked for over a year. But she worked with me and the state had to keep their nose out of it. and now she gets additional money when needed!

The state can not solve problems. They never have, and never will.

lawyers and politicians are the root of the problem.

Answer 2

The first thing I would do, is to get the original order revised to show your current financial situation. This should have been done three years ago. By law, in every state, child support is based on ability to pay. If you would have had this revised three years ago, you would not be so far behind. I hope you have a lawyer. If you don't, talk to the legal aid with H.S.S. and get help. More than likely the order for change will take effect on the date of the hearing. I don't know about jail time, but you can lose your drivers license, which doesn't make sense to me.......if you can't drive, how are you supposed to get a good enough job to support your kids properly.
Having two jobs will help your case, just make sure that the court is aware of your situation. Bring evidence of when, and how bad you hurt your arm......without this, you will have a hard time convincing the court that you are not a deadbeat dad.

Good luck

Answer 3

I'm not sure where you live, but when you became unable to pay, you ought to have gone to court for a "modification of child support".

No matter how justified you are re: health reason or changed circumstances, you just can take it upon yourself to decrease the amount you pay. You HAVE to go and get the Court's approval.

I don't know if you can do so retroactively to reduce the amount of arrearages, but if you qualify because of your income--I would suggest going to Legal Aid.

Answer 4

ya like trooper said and you may ask for reductions, forgiveness, in lieu of your condition and re figuring your monthly on your new pay. You got have some pat proof though and many times the judges are ***** anyway. Try to get some type of legal rep even if it's only a PD

Answer 5

You have one thing in your favor, everyone knows you can't pay support in jail.

You will need to explain to the courts why you have fallen so far behind. The better your explaination, the better the chance of you getting back to work and not sitting time.