LoveToKnow Divorce:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Divorce

Comments

Child Support,

Under Texas law, the Court assumes that joint custody is in the best interests of the child. You will find more information here. The Court has the final say over child support payments, but both parents have a legal responsibility to support their children. If you can't afford a lawyer, contact Legal Aid or a community legal clinic for advice.

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JCRedmond

I am in the process of getting a divorse, I currently have my daughter 60% of the time (working out fine). My husband (consulting with his lawyer-which I cannot afford!) is demanding a 50/50 Custody in the decree, AND a "deadline" of 1 May! Is there something I am missing? Will 50% Custody in the Decree releave him of Child Support Payments? Why the "short suspence", is there some new Texas law coming out that will "hurt" his "Financial Support" position? Please Help!

-- Contributed by: Child Support vs % of Custody

Mark,

The Attorney General's office is not "for" or "against" you in this dispute. Hiring an attorney who will work to protect your interests is the right thing for you to do. Take your canceled checks and money orders with you when you meet with the attorney.

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JCRedmond

Hind sight is 20/20...my ex-wife begged me to give the child support directly to her, didn't want to wait for the check. I abliged. Now she has turned me in for back child support. I went to the Attorney General's office with copies of money orders and checks proving, in fact, she owes me. I was told that I had to hire an attorney. Is the Attorney General's office not there for me, she did not have to hire an attorney.

-- Contributed by: Mark Wilks

Tim,

I can only imagine how frustrating this situation must be for you. I would suggest that you contact a lawyer to get some help with correcting the State's records. Your attorney will also be able to advise whether your child's mother is subject to any legal consequences for collecting child support when the child did not live with her.

Jodee Redmond, LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JCRedmond

My daughter was born 2/14/90. My daughter lived with my father her first 5 to 6 years of her life. (1990 to 1995-1996). I have paid child support to a woman that I lived with for a month, who did drugs and did not have the child living with her. In 1995-1996 my daughter lived with her aunt for several years thereafter (again, not with her mother). Yet, I have still paid child support to the mother. At the age of 13, my daughter was having sex and living with her boyfriend. At age 15, my daughter became pregnant. At age 16, my daughter had a baby. My daughter dropped out of school, lives with her boyfriend, has a child, and got married in October, 2007 (all before the age of 18). Yet I still have been paying child support to a woman that does?/did drugs, hasn't supported my daughter, and is still collecting child support to this day, because the State's records are all screwed up and indicate that I have an arrearage. How is it possible that she is not arrested/fined/jailed for receiving child support, when the child hasn't been living with her? Will this ever end?

-- Contributed by: Tim

Michelle,

I would suggest that your husband consult with a lawyer to find out what his rights and responsibilities are in this situation. The child moving out of the home and in with the other parent is a material change in cir...stances, and he may want to ask the Court to change the child support order to reflect this fact.

Jodee Redmond, LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JCRedmond

My 16 year step-daughter just moved to live with her mother. My husband was told there would be a 6 month adjustment period before any modifications can be made. He was also told that he was not responsible for paying child support during this time and that his ex-wife could not ask for back child support after the six month waiting period. Is this true? We live in Houston, Texas

-- Contributed by: Michelle

Melissa,

In Texas, lottery winnings are considered income (for the purpose of calculating child support payments) and this change in cir...stances means that the amount of child support to be paid would be increased.

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JCRedmond

If you have been divorced and are currently paying child support and have not been delinquent and then win the lottery how does that affect your child support payment allotment?

-- Contributed by: Melissa

Mari,

If you are trying to collect back child support payments, these options are available to you if you are unable to collect the money yourself: You can hire a lawyer to help you. You can contact the Child Support Division of the Office of the Attorney General (http://www.oag.state.tx.us/cs/) for assistance. You also have the option of hiring a child support collection agency. These companies work on a contingency basis. There is no fee unless they collect money for you. You can find a listing of agencies by typing "child support collection agency" (including quotes) in the search box of Google or another search engine. Before hiring one of these companies, be sure to check them out with the Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org).

JC Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JCRedmond

My ex lives in a small town in Texas. My daughter is now 22, but he owes p;rior to her emancipation. Where do I turn. THank you

-- Contributed by: Mari Jackson
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