What will happen to court-ordered support in this economy?

grasswire

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Fri Jan-30-09 01:27 AM
Original message

What will happen to court-ordered support in this economy?

How will non-custodial parents fulfill their support obligations if they can't get work? And what about enforcement? Are courts going to jail people whose income has dried up?

This is a big can of worms yet to hit. Laws have been written to go after deadbeat dads, but what about just unemployed dads?

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Hello_Kitty

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Fri Jan-30-09 01:37 AM
Response to Original message

1. It will cascade through society

More men not being able to pay support means more children on public assistance.

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sandnsea

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Fri Jan-30-09 01:58 AM
Response to Original message

2. Most "deadbeat" dads are just unemployed

or underemployed. Just like the moms who go on welfare.

Most states have formulas now, so they should just apply that and reduce the amount. Otherwise it will just tick tick tick away.

California is the only state I know of that sends parents to jail for not paying support. Are there others?

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grasswire

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Fri Jan-30-09 02:23 AM
Response to Reply #2

3. yes

A family member of mine in New England lost his job nearly a year ago; his ex-wife went to court to enforce child support and spousal support. He is paying child support from part-time work but can't address the arrearage or the spousal support. She is holding the threat of jail time over his head every month, which makes no sense. A dad in jail can't work or pay support. The mom in this case has no financial worry, with a good solid job making ~ 70 grand. He has nothing, not even a car for getting to work and in New England communities there often is NO public transportation. The state ordering this threat of jail time is Maine.

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mainegreen

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Fri Jan-30-09 12:17 PM
Response to Reply #3

8. Yeah, our DHS system is mentally deficient in Maine to say the least

from what I have seen happen to people I know.

Maine DHS = Vogons.

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sarcasmo

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Fri Jan-30-09 09:08 PM
Response to Reply #3

9. Michigan does this too, if you are underemployed they will threaten you with Jail.

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tosh

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Fri Jan-30-09 10:04 AM
Response to Reply #2

6. Georgia. Being unemployed does not prevent jail time.

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ezgoingrl

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Fri Jan-30-09 02:39 AM
Response to Original message

4. Even if you are unemployed or underemployed

the obligation to support a child does not go away. That's just the way it is. If a non-custodial parent cannot pay child support, the amount not paid goes into arrears. If the child support goes through the state, once the non-custodial parent is employed again, the regular amount of child support as well as a portion of the unpaid amount is taken out of the non-custodial parent's pay until the unpaid portion is paid.

If the child support isn't collected through the state child support enforcement office then it is up to the custodial parent to obtain a lawyer and collect the unpaid amount via the court system.

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pnwmom

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Fri Jan-30-09 03:07 AM
Response to Original message

5. What will happen to children in this economy? n/t

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grasswire

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Fri Jan-30-09 11:24 AM
Response to Reply #5

7. very sad

These children are well provided for. Mom has a steady, well-paying, untouchable job that allows private pre-school, classes and lessons etc. But of course there are many millions of children suffering deprivation. Another reason to hate Republicans.

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pnwmom

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Sat Jan-31-09 08:03 AM
Response to Reply #7

10. Which children are you referring to? n/t

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