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Anybody have experience collecting Child support?

Steamed's picture

Heres the situation, my sons BM has never really been a part of his life, before we divorced she never had time for him and couldn't wait for me to get home at the end of the day so she could head out the door to party with her friends. After the divorce, she cared even less about him. I have primary custody and she has court ordered supervised visits, which she has not taken advantage of for at least two years. Thats right, she hasn't seen him in at least two years, no phone calls on his b-day, christmas, nothing at all.

That part is actually fine with me, and I think it's fine with him too (8 yrs old). If you ask him, he will tell you that my second wife, (his SM) is his mom. She has accepted him from day one, and he has accepted her. It was easier for her being that he was 4 when I met her, her kids were teenagers by the time we met..., but that is another story. I love her for accepting my son the way she has and I am glad that he feels the way that he does about her. Theres no problem there.

As it stands right now, BM owes around $8000 in back child support. The last payment that she made was about two years ago. She has been arrested, thrown in jail, etc all due to not paying the CS. Now she has apparantly fallen off the face of the earth. Child services says that they can't find her, there are warrants out for her arrest and she has just disappeared for the last year or so.

I looked at one of those places that will collect your back CS for you for a fee. Anybody ever try that?, any other ideas?

Just so you know, I don't want or need her money, my son will have what he needs when he needs it regardless of what she contributes ( which has been next to nothing), the little bit of money that I used to get from her went straight to his education IRA that I set up the day he was born, I contribute to it every month and the money that she sent was just an added bonus for his future. But I want her to live up to her responsibility, I don't need the money, but he will be able to at least get something from the POS that birthed him.

If anyone has any experience with this that they would be willing to share I would love to hear any ideas. Thank you.

Comments

happy's picture

Prosecuting Attorney's office and for $25 they will seek them out for your child. I say that because they will tell you they do not work for you but for the children. My ex is up to $2756.88 so I took him there to get it directly taken from his milk checks.. So start there. Actually if you really do not want the money start the proceedings for "abondonment" and then your wife can legally adopt your son and be his mom..

Anne 8102's picture

My ex-husband abandoned me and our unborn child when I was five months pregnant. I went out one day, came home and the locks were changed. I never saw him again. He never wanted anything to do with our child. Never paid CS, didn't see him even one time, pretty much just vanished. The only contact I had with him was through attorneys, who were in touch with his parents, who then contacted him. He owed several thousand dollars in CS, so I offered to drop the CS if he signed over his rights. He signed the papers lickety-split. Three years later, I met up with the boy I'd had a crush on in high school and we got married. My husband adopted my son. We've got a new birth certificate with my husband's name on it and my husband is now my child's father in every way except biologically. Like you, I didn't need the money and it was worth it to ensure he couldn't ever come back later, like when my child was older, and confuse him.

Oops, forgot this was about you for a second. If she's that delinquent, then there are all sorts of things you can do. Any licenses she holds can be revoked, her paychecks (if she has any) can be garnished, the IRS can withhold any refunds due her, you can put her picture out there on deadbeat parents' sites, etc. Definitely go with whatever government/court resources are available first, though.

~ Anne ~

papergirl31128's picture

I looked into one of those and i can't remember exactly but they take so much and i think they take theirs first. Also there was something like they will continue to take it unless there is no activity for 2 years. Which I took as if you got one payment in a year (which someone could through the tax offset) then you are basically screwed.

My ex owes me 11,000.00 and the other one owes 10,000. I figure whatever i get when I get it must means I need it then. I decided not to use those companies because I figure that I should not be paying someone to collect. A good website or information site is 1- www.childrupport-aces.org - the associateion for children for enforcement of support
if you call they will send you a booklet that gives you some good information and talks a little those places that "help" you collect.

Aslo check out http://www.acf.hhs.gov/index.html- under child support they look like they have some good information and there is a place you can put in a question.
Good luck

tiff's picture

wow we have similar situations- except i am the step mom that is the mom-- good luck - nothing we have tried has worked yet- and she is just starting her supervised visits- 1st time in 2 years- We just dont expect it anymore- if you find a way let me know