If I owe back child support, can I be stopped from obtaining a passport, leaving the U.S. to travel the world, or immigrating to another country?
Indeed. There are actually very few things that can prevent a U.S. citizen from getting a passport, but owing over 2.5k on back child support is one of the most common. And without a U.S. passport, it will be difficult for you (presumably a U.S. citizen) to travel or immigrate anywhere.The child support collection process is automated to the extent that a passport will be denied to a non-custodial parent in arrears, without any additional paperwork. In other words, nobody lifts a finger and the ban shows up in the system as soon as one crosses the 2.5k USD threshold.In my experience, most non-custodial parents who find themselves in this situation are able to get out of dodge by either contacting and negotiating directly with the custodial parent (not always feasible or advisable), or by providing evidence for an amendment to the original court order of support (usually based on a material change of circumstances). Thanks for the A2A, User-11978101981914353371.
How can you stop income tax refund going towards child support?
He is not a dead beat dad for those who feel they must attack him. For those who are attacking his wife because she has not found employment she has a 7 month old and have you not notice the cost of child care. This family is not on welfare - this family are involved in the community. They are scout leaders, baseball coaches they are good people. So when you feel that you must be rude and cut down others think of all the things you do not know. This is for people to ask and receive answers not to be attack and see how rude you can be. He has been current for years. It is just the 10 years him and his exwife did not go thru the court systems.
If we move to Canada or Mexico will child support payments stop being taken from my paycheck?
Possibly! You can run but you can't hide from child support payments. Yes, you can leave the U.S. to avoid paying child support BUT while you are gone, you will still owe those payments and they will be adding up with compound interest. Not only that but you can never go bankrupt on child support debt and if necessary, the courts will be plucking the rings off your dead hands to help pay what you your child! Worse still, if you reach a certain amount in arrears, your ex can go back to court to have you sanctioned (punished). Your driver's license and passport will be canceled (just try living in a foreign country with an invalid passport or a passport that can't be renewed)...and most likely an arrest warrant will be issued for you to do some jail time. Pay up now or later...that is your only choice, not "if" you pay. God bless!
Can child support garnish your 401k if you owe back pay?
Yes absolutely. A lawyer can use a Qualified Domestic Relations Order to turn all or part of your 401k into child support. Now, if you are already subject to Income Withholding, and child support and arrearages are coming out of your paycheck, then you are already paying for the arrearages.But depending on how far behind you are, and whether or not your ex has the funds to hire an attorney, be aware that it's possible. So if it will take you 20 years to catch up on arrearages paying a portion slowly through your paycheck, but you have a nice fat 401k that would cover it all right now, I would definitely go after it if I was your ex's lawyer.
Why do I have to pay child support when I have never had DNA testing nor have I ever met or been in contact with or had any relationship with the alleged child?
My ex-wife and I got divorced when my son was 4 yrs old and I was in the Army. I had visitations to a point. The judge informed me that my child support would be $168. a WEEK! I got on the bad side of the judge when I ask, “Why so much?” He motioned me to step forward and placed his hand over the microphone and said, “Sergeant, You have a room, food and clothing that the Army gives you. You will pay the support for your son to have the same.” That judge died a few years later! I paid on him without regret until he turned 18 all through AFDC and it came straight out of my military pay without me seeing it. My visitation lasted til my Ex-wife met a real loser and moved to another state without notifying me. That was about two years later! I tried to find him through the courts and since I was paying through AFDC [a federal agency] the court told me, through my Attorney, that she would have to O.K. AFDC to give me her address. I found out when he was 18 where he was and went through family court for a ‘TERMINATION OF CHILD SUPPORT’ motion. When we went to court he was there. He told me that his mother had told him that I was killed in Vietnam. Since he received the summons to appear, he and his mother have not spoken.After court, I found out that I had a grandson and my grand daughter was on the way. We have gotten closer over the years, my son, his wife, my grand kids and now a great grand son. I met my Ex once lately and her response was, “Why couldn’t you let it be and stay DEAD TO US!!!”SHE’S A REAL BITCH from HELL !!!
Should I risk going back to court for child support since my bills have increased?
I have to say, your question is troubling. The fact you had to be hauled into court to support your own child basically makes me want to reach into the screen and punch you. But I’ll answer this anyway.In New York, where I live, for one child, with annual income of $33,280,you would be expected to pay $5,644, which comes to about $473/mo. To this would be added certain expenses, like child care, and medical expenses, like braces.We hear a lot about how courts are always siding with the mothers and the fathers are abused and over-taxed, but speaking from personal experience, some judges do everything they can to give the opposite message.On the other hand, that’s a lotta money with your income.In Florida, “Net Income” is determined by deducting taxes, union dues, alimony payments, and other expenses. To get the figure $991, you would have to make $4950 per month. I am trying to understand how you would be saddled with that much child support if you only make $33K a year, even if you didn’t pay rent. But I also can’t help wondering why you find it so easy to shrug off what anyone would consider a moral obligation to take care of his own baby.Maybe they believe in punitive damages in Florida. Maybe your ex was on public assistance and now you have to pay it back. That’s what they do oin New York and New Jersey.Many parents unfortunately share your attitude that child support is a tax-free gift to the custodial parent, and not money for your own child. This whole experience for you is one big financial disaster. That’s not just sad for the child involved. It’s sad for YOU.Do you have any idea what you’re missing?Since you have to pay to play, think about the bright side of paying child support for Bringing Up Baby. Everty father I know is an expert at letting the good times roll. You could be enjoying life, giving yourself a second childhood, and sharing those moments with your new son or daughter. Your ex, meantime, has to order your kid to do his homework and eat his vegetables, effectively transforming her into Mommy Dearest at dinner every night.I’ve never been to Disneyworld. My daughter has been there FIVE (5) TIMES. How do you think she got there?Think about it. This could be fun. And instead of looking like a cheap son of a bitch, you’ll sound like the World’s Greatest Dad.Bite the bullet. Tell the truth. Give her something fun to growl about — like, I can’t believe he’s taking her to The Magic Kingdom.
Should I thank my child's father for paying child support?
Interesting question. On one hand, you’re thanking him for doing what he should do even without being ordered to by a court. They’re his kids too - he enjoyed making them.On the other hand, with so many non custodial parents skipping out on their obligations, it’s a good thing to have one that steps up to the plate and pays what they are supposed to. Saying thanks for not being one of “those” and helping out might be a nice thing to do. Depends a lot on your relationship with him.My children’s dad swore he’d never, ever pay child support. I took him back to court, where his high powered lawyer kept me on the stand grilling me for 3 hours as to why I thought I needed child support. They’re HIS kids too!! But you drive a brand new car. Yeah, I do. But it wasn’t a Cadillac, it was a Honda. I was a single mom with two kids, one of whom was special needs. I lived and worked in a huge city where I had no family. I also knew zip about fixing a car. I needed reliable transportation, not someone else’s castoff problem beater. “You’re wearing a suit” Yeah, I have a professional job, and he’s a GM Engineer - your point is? Anyway, there was 3 hours of that back and forth.In the end, I got a judgment for a small amount of child support, with no award of arrearage. Once I got the judgment, he paid faithfully. However, he had no further contact with his children. They are now adults, and he hasn’t seen one of them in years or talked to them. He’s always too busy to spend time with the other one, and all calls are initiated by the child.Have I thanked him? Nope. He doesn’t deserve it. Too many non custodial parents think of child support as extra income for the custodial parent. News flash - it’s not “mad money”. It helps with school books, child care costs, school clothes, lunch money, after school activities, etc, etc. That stuff adds up and is difficult to do on one income when you’re a single parent.
My daughters fathers wants to reduce his child support payments!?
I just found out that I have to go to court because the father of my daughter wants his child support payments reduced. For 8 years he had no problem paying his $500 a month child support obligation and providing her medical insurance. She is 10 so he did not help me at all for the first 2 years of her life. Well, 6 months ago he quit his job where he was making good money to work at a place making $10 an hour. He stopped paying his child support and has lied to me several times about her insurance coverage. First he told me that he was paying the COBRA and she had coverage. Then I found out that wasn’t true. In October, he told me that he added her to his insurance at his new job, and again I found out that wasn’t true. My daughter had ADHD and visits her doctor on a monthly basis and needs medication every month (which she has not had in the last 6 months.) Her last appointment was on June 1st and I recently received a bill in the mail for over $300 from the doctor because her insurance coverage ended on 5/31! My job does not pay for dependents coverage so I am responsible for the full portion of her insurance (which is over $600) so now I have to get her an individual insurance policy which will cost me about $150 a month. I already work 2 jobs to support my daughter and me. I received my associate’s degree a year and a half ago but I am back in school taking more classes to better myself. I am also working on starting my own business. I have NO family where I live so I do not have a family support system to help me out. I do not qualify for any government help, including Medicaid or even free lunch at school for my daughter. Her father does have a 4 year old son with his current girlfriend who also lives with him. I just found out that she quit her job and is not working. She has 3 kids (all 3 by different men) and I’m sure that they all are covered under Medicaid and receive food stamp benefits. I do not feel sorry for him at all. As a man, he has a responsibility to support his family/children. He needs to make better choices. You don’t quit a job unless you have something better lined up! I’m nervous and stressed about going to court, how do I present my case to the judge so she can see that I really need this money?