Q: Scott,
Hey! I have a comment on . As a fellow single parent, trust me; I know how hard it can be in child support issues. Can you please relay these suggestions to the lady that wrote you:
1. MOVE. I tried to file in Jefferson County when I lived there and it took them weeks to call me back. I moved to a nearby county (Broomfield) and was amazed at what a lighter workload does for enforcement agents. I was let in on a few important aspects that have helped me collect. I deal with agents that keep up on their paperwork, and give the knowledge the custodial parent has a right to have.
2. File with Family Support Registry. Your payment may be delayed a day or two after collection; but you can check with them anytime you want (day, night, or weekend). They always tell you how much the arrears are, and you can use this knowledge to contact your CSEA to complain that the dead beat:
- a. Hasn’t made at least 65% of his order this month (license gets revoked).
- b. Hasn’t paid anything in three months (court process begins. They set him up a date to see the judge, second time he goes to the judge I am pretty sure he has to go to jail).
- c. Have a possible tax return and an arrears balance (which according to the family support registry means it is intercepted by the federal refund offset program and then sent to you).
I know that moving sounds like a big step, and for some people it is out of the question; but consider what is fair to your child.
It took two to make the kid, and these days it takes two to support a kid. No child should live in poverty because the other one is a jerk!
SCOTT: You can say that again! And moving might sound extreme, but when one parent has learned to manipulate the child support system and the system fails you and your child, it starts looking like a viable alternative.
Thank you for your e-mail.
Today’s column and “” both contain valuable information for any parent going through a child support nightmare.