Collecting Financial Support

Whether we like it or not, money provides opportunities. Unfortunately, it seems my son's father, we'll call him J, doesn't enjoy providing my son with opportunities. I've been trying to collect child support from him for quite some time. He might pay for a few weeks or months, and then he'll change jobs and we start from the beginning again. Luckily, the enforcement agency always intercepts his income tax. That provides us with some extra money. Too bad the agency never finds his income to withhold child support for long.

At this point in time, J owes us just over $7,000 and it is growing every week. This does not include the court order interest as the child support enforcement agency doesn't collect that in his state. He will never be able to have anything unless he starts paying is support. The enforcement agency will put a lien on anything he ever buys. He has lost his license multiple times only to drive without it. Since he doesn't own a car, he is usually driving someone else's car without a license. He has to fill out paperwork to prove he's looking for a job, although I'm pretty sure he's not. He also has to appear in front of a judge periodically. None of this brings any child support. Recently, he failed to show up for one of his court dates. A judge ordered 30 days in jail or $1500 paid toward back child support. This was in September and neither has happened yet. I've been looking into the hold up, and that is a blog in itself.

What can possibly be done to collect support? More man power for the collection agency would be a great start. Follow up and enforcement of the rules would also help. J is a call firefighter in the town he lives in. I've been trying to get a withholding order put on his fire check for a year now. He's only paid quarterly, but at least it would be some money. For some reason it never seems to happen. If the case manager at the enforcement agency had more time, I think he would follow up on it and make it happen. That is only a guess though.

I hear nothing from the enforcement agency unless I call their hotline. Then I do not talk to the case manager, but an agent who can only read what has been put into the computer screen. J is the only one who can actually talk to the case manager. I've even asked questions that he has completely ignored. I'm told I have one of the best case managers on the case. I find that comment extremely disappointing since I see very little results.

My son, and all children, deserve the support of both parents! The extra money we are suppose to receive on a weekly basis could provide him with Karate lessons, or swimming lessons, or ice hockey. As it is now, all of my money goes toward making life better for him. Shouldn't some of his father's money go towards that goal? Shouldn't his father want that?