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Non-custodial parents are speaking up about the family court system and how current child support laws are doing more harm than good. Many fathers are complaining that the system is set up in such a manner that these non-custodial fathers are destined to fail. They claim that astronomical child support obligations are forcing them both into debt and out of their children’s lives.
With the amount of interest and late fees that are tacked onto child support obligations that have not been paid on time for whatever reason, small debts are accruing into out of hand dilemmas quickly. Those fathers who pay their support on time claim that the amounts usually ordered by the court are so high that the father cannot afford to meet the obligation as well as their other financial obligations.
This link will take you to an online petition for non-custodial parents. There is an open letter to the president, George W. Bush explaining the flaws that many non-custodial parents feel are wrong with the Family Court system.
Child support always seems to be a sore spot for families of divorce. One side always feels that there isn’t enough child support, while the other side feels that they are paying way too much support. What should courts take into account when figuring out a child support obligation? Are the courts giving the non-custodial parents the short end of the stick, or are non-custodial parents simply bitter about having to hand money over to a parent they no longer wish to have in their lives?
In our situation we never asked for any child support payments. The few times that we had asked for money for items such as school supplies or clothes we got an earful of screaming. Not wanting to go through a drawn out court battle over money that we didn’t need, we decided to just let it go and not ask for a dime from that moment on.
What has been your experience when it comes to child support and the court system?
Julie,
I have seen child support laws, nearly ruin my brother’s life. His son’s grandfather is wealthy, and supplied the mom with a very good attorney. My brother went in blind, without ANY attorney at all. My brother is ordered to pay almost $800 a month and he does so on time, each month. My nephew’s mom claimed to be a student, and and that she needed full time childcare. If that’s what she were really doing, that would be one thing, but it isn’t. She does not go to school, nor does she work. My nephew is 6, and just finished kindergarten. When I asked him why he went to daycare, he said, “because my mom needs a break”. He is well-behaved, and was already at school for half the day. How much of a break does a parent need? My brother is in another relationship now, with a girl who has no children. I have seen the child support nearly split them up. It’s hard, when your partner can’t pull their own weight because of exhorbant child support payments. He has also gone into considerable debt. Don’t get me wrong, I think that he does need to pay support for his son. However, the amount was the result of the mom having a big shot attorney, and her not telling the truth. Unfortunately, the courts don’t bother to check up on people. I have seen it the other way too. I have known moms who get very little to no support, because their child’s dad works under the table.
I’ve seen it from all sides, too, Julie (as the spouse of someone who faithfully paid a hefty child support sum; and as the ex-spouse of someone who didn’t pay until the court finally garnished his wages.)
In Georgia, the amt was based solely on my hubby’s income and was paid directly to his ex (with no record kept, except by us). She actually made significantly more money than he did, but that didn’t matter…it was still 37% of his income. Because his ex was not vindictive, she never cried wolf and said he didn’t pay, but I know others to whom this has happened.
In Kansas, where I was divorced, the amt was calculated based on both parents’ income and cost of living, and all the payments are handled directly through the state. They take a small percentage, but they also do the chasing of those who don’t pay. Because I have long quit working to raise my special needs child, I have been told by the state I could get significantly more support for my other daughter. It just hasn’t seemed to be worth hiring the lawyer and battling it all out.
My point…Kansas is the fairer system…and I like that the money is administered through the state because that way the state knows it’s going to the kid (or at least to the custodial parent to spend how she/he wishes). But that’s another whole blog isn’t it????