Child Support and Community Accountability

[msladida]

Hi all,

I am actually not a single mom, but I didn't know the best place to put this topic. To make a long story short, my 6 year old son's biological father has been very unreliable, including basically avoiding paying child support as much as is possible ever since birth. (Working under the table, living with others who will pay his bills, etc.) He now has a decent job. My family is currently in financial straits and bio dad has told me for about 6 months that he is setting up autopay for his child support, but I have not seen a dime in that time. We have know a great many people in common, and I don't think most of them know this fact about him. I'm curious if anyone has ever tried to hold their child's parent responsible for non-payment of child support through some kind of community accountability? What did you do, or what do you think would work? Thoughts?

[zebra15]

Nope-  'Discretion is the better part of valor'.  

Plus around here we have a 'deadbeat' most wanted poster, that's a much publicity as I want.  If you are registered with the child support division they should be monitoring your case.  You should be automatically submitted for things (wage assignment, IRS with holdings, etc)

[4midablemama]

Nope, because his community-his family and friends-would crucify me if I tried to out him, and more importantly, it would affect my kids and that I will not have. I leave it to the child support enforcement people, ineffective though they are a lot of the time. 

[Goodmom2008]

No, that's a waste of time.

But asking that his wages be garnished through the state is not.  He may quit his job the first time he is garnished, but the state would be the one who would be handling contempt issues.  Some states do a better job than others.

[lucifugous]

Thanks for asking, I am just learning about all of this. For the first several months after we were separated it seemed best to let my DD's dad fork over what he felt was right, but considering how inconsistent and ummm ridiculously little it is, I need to file. But I have some sort of mental block there : /