Comments on: What’s your child support status?

By: Rachel Sarah

Rachel Sarah — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:13:42 +0000

@Sami: We’ve been there and understand your frustration. We encourage you to look for a work-at-home job. Let us know if you need some resources. By any chance, have you considered going back to school? Keep us posted.

By: Wyetha

Wyetha — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:01:12 +0000

If I could collect the couple of thousands of dollars I’m owed I wouldn’t have to work so hard… My daughter’s father claims that he is bi-polar and he is unable to work but when we went to court he produced a letter saying he could work atleast 29 hours a week but he gets SSI and he does not want to get deductions on his check so he is not really looking for work. They can’t touch his SSI check and I just started getting some money but it is not touching the arreaars!

By: Sami

Sami — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:38:11 +0000

I am currently receiving no child support. My ex is 3 payments behind because he has decided that he isn’t going to make anymore payments until we have reached a legal agreement and signed it. I work part time. Before my LO I had multiple part time short term jobs. I’m a theatre artist and that is often the norm for us. Since my LO came along I work 1 regular part time job and teach acting classes in the spring and fall and raise him full time. It is most important to me be a full time mommy first. So I have depended on the child support. I am now rethinking and considering a work from home business to add to my income. On a part time income I don’t know when I’ll be able to afford a lawyer so my ex and I can settle this legally. I wake stressed every day about whether I buy diapers, pay a bill or hire a lawyer. Meanwhile my ex says that he can’t pay child support because he needs to save money in case we go to court. So what is my LO supposed to do? Eat half as much food? Use half as many diapers? Slow down growing? Until his father can make child support payments? Its infuriating

By: Rachel Sarah

Rachel Sarah — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:53:53 +0000

@Jenn: You really say it well when you write that the refusal to pay child support is infuriating — yet “it is the lack of obligation and respect that is the most hurtful.”
Thank you.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:45:39 +0000

My ex pays the bare minimum of his child support so he doesn’t loose his license, except he refuses to pay our daughter’s health care expenses. He first lied to me and signed her up for the state funded medicare saying she along with his other children that don’t live with him, were in his household, obviously is conflicted with the insurance our daughter already had through my employer, so he had to cancel the state funded medicare, but feels it is my fault I wouldn’t go along with it so it would be free for him, he currently owes over $3K. He refuses to pay, saying it isn’t fair, or he doesn’t have the money, meanwhile his son and his new stepson went on a summer vacation to 2 different states, and he is signing them up for a basketball camp and pee-wee football for the fall. It is undeniablly true, the money doesn’t matter, it is the lack of obligation and respect that is the most hurtful.

By: Amy k

Amy k — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:42:58 +0000

My ex is now $1500 behind in state owed child support, and also owes me $3000 in reimbursement for school/care/medical costs. Every penny of it is backed by the divorce decree. I and my son, meanwhile, are stuck living with my parents, cannot afford medicine, clothes, food, basics. But he gets a new trailer, goes to baseball games and can hire a lawyer to fight me relocating my son. I may lose the case because I most certainly can’t afford a lawyer. He takes no responsibility for my son but reaps the benefits of weekly visitations and stopping us from moving to a better life. I have been working with the state to enforce the childsupport but it has been since march and still they haven’t actually got me a dime of child support.

By: Dr. Leah

Dr. Leah — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:31:42 +0000

Karen: You share an all too familiar story. We agree: both parents should support kids. Please visit us again soon!

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:24:25 +0000

I am a single Mom who pays her ex child support. The amount he earned working last year was equivalent to the amount I paid him and I also see his wife making more money than I do. Immediately after the 1st child support payment, he started planning his honeymoon in Hawaii.

I am glad you mentioned working hard, I do believe both parents should care for their children both financially and emotionally and while my ex chose not to work and go back to school to finish his degree, I was happy to pay for whatever came up for our kids (i.e., doctor bills, school registration, hot lunch, clothes, school registration & supplies, etc.) that way I knew my children were being cared for. Jaime mentioned the system not being able to get money from someone who is unable or unwilling to work, in my case the system pays the person unwilling to work.

By: Dr. Leah

Dr. Leah — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:00:02 +0000

Ansley: We hear you. Fingers crossed for your son. Keep us posted!

By: Ansley

Ansley — Thu, 26 May 2011 13:46:26 +0000

My husband and i were married for less than a year when we separated. Our son is his 5th child from 3 different women, me included. We have been embroiled in a divorce/child support battle for 10 months now and he has given me $200 to date…..basically when he feels like it. We have mediation soon so hopefully we can get something resolved. To be frank, I really don’t even care or need the money for my son, it’s the DISRESPECT of my son that i can’t stand!