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Asked 6/24/2008

What should I do when the father of my child stops paying his child support?

My son is 19 mos. old now and has yet to see his father. When I got pregnant, it was before I found out the man I was with was married even though he said he was devorced, and during all the time after I became pregnant and after I gave birth, he has stayed absent, despite later pretending to want time with his son. I put in for child support in 2007 and it took him four months to start paying; but when he did, he never payed the full amount of $431/mo he was ordered to pay. As of the 7th of May this year he has not paid anything.
I never tried to keep his son from him and if the reason he has stopped paying is because he is not seeing his son, he hasn't a leg to stand on as I had set up mediation to start visitation, but he only showed for one meeting out of 3(I say 3 meetings because he missed the first and the last one) He doesn't even try to see his son. I refuse to chase him down just to get him to visit with his child.
Just recently he called me and left a message for me to call him. I don't know what he could want from me. Should I call him to find out what he wants? Am I legally bound to contact him? Should I just call Child Support Services and report him for not paying? To be honest, I don't want to speak to him given what he has done to me and what he is doing to my...our son by denying the support he's due.

 
 
 
 
 
Answers

Answer 1/5 - Submitted 6/29/2008

If you have court-mandated child support, you just need to report him. If he isn't paying voluntarily, they should garnish his wages for back support. I think most states consider support and visitation to be two separate issues, one can't be witheld because of the other. Just be sure you aren't denying him court ordered visitation, that could get YOU in trouble.

 
 

Answer 2/5 - Submitted 7/1/2008

Well honey unfortunately the money that he is supposed to be paying in will just keep piling up.. and over time once he gets far enough behind they will take his liscense and then they will put him in jail.. they will actually put warrents out for his arrest... what state are you in.. if you go to your local social services.. some of them have TANF programs otherwise known as cash assistance sometimes they are able to help you and then the money that they give you.. they will just get back when he starts paying... so you are actually pretty much getting th child support money but he will be paying them back.. and if he doesnt that is more of a felony and he could spend his life in prison if that is what he wants! good job on caring for your child I give you respect for that honey!

 
 

Answer 3/5 - Submitted 7/1/2008

Yes the first thing you need to do is report him. The courts will take over and make him pay back pay. If he does not have the money to pay it will go into collections and they can garnish his wages and tax returns.

 
 

Answer 4/5 - Submitted 1/9/2009

Do not call him. Report him to Domestic Relations. They will give you a court date, and once he gets the notice, let's hope he is smart enough to know that he will serve time if he doesn't shape up. Good luck.

 
 

Answer 5/5 - Submitted 4/17/2010

If you dont want to talk to him, you dont have to. He may be doing some rethinking of his ways though or want more time with his child.

Is the support paid thru the state? If you went to court and have a order establishing child support and visitation and hes not paying then contact your child support office. they should have records. It will most likely take a while for them to do anything, since theres alot of paperwork and stuff but in the long run you'll be happy you did. My cousin has the same issue with her ex. He stops paying from Nov-May of every yr for the past 5 yrs. The courts have finally threatened him with taking his license away, going after his taxes, as well as put him on a fatherhood program. Its where they make sure hes looking for a job (if he doesnt have one) and he'll get in big trouble if he doesnt follow their rules.

Contact the child support office and ask them to do something

 
 
 
 
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