I have not received a child support check in over 3 months! Does my ex think the kids didn't need any school clothes or school supplies? Or maybe he just doesn't care - out of sight - out of mind! He keeps saying he's going to get a job and start paying again but I still haven't seen a check. He has paid sporadically ever since our divorce in 1999. He usually doesn't stay on a job long enough to garnish his wages. Child Support Enforcement is very little help. I give them all the info they need to pursue him and they don't do much because he's out of state. By the time they get around to going after his income tax refund, he's already gotten it back and has spent it. So they hand you food stamps and you're supposed to be happy with that. Well, I'm not! If you owed money to the IRS, they would freeze your accounts and get that money one way or another. Why can't they do that with child support?

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Married in 1987 - Divorced in 1999
3 children - Oliver(11) Lydia(12) Spencer(14)*
*Has cerebral palsy
Psalm 34:18 - The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart

I have issues with my X and child support. He always thinks of himself first before the boys. He knows we are dependent on his support. I am currently working on garnishing his wages. I know it "stinks" that we have to put up with this...I certainly hope that they are able to catch up with yours and make him pay up.
Hang in there...
Emily

When they are in arrears, the IRS tax refund generally goes to the obligatee (...oh, the person that is owed the money...I can't think of the right word). I don't know what states you are dealing with, but I do know that many times the states do not cooporate with each other. I'm in Ohio and they've been very helpful....Texas has not cooporated (that is where the X lives).

Your local CSEA is probably swamped and overloaded. keep calling...pestering...until they act. Have you contacted the attorney general's office in the state the X lives in?

I've had a time with child support myself....
Good luck

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Lisa D
age 40; Married 1991, Divorced 2000; moved from TX to OH/WV; Remarried 2003; 2 children, ages 12 & 13; 2 stepsons, ages 20 & 25; 2 weenie dogs, 3 hamsters, 1 betta fish

In 4 months my husband has sent 150.00. My stimulus check went to him and he doesn't want to give it to me. He says he will use it to pay for the divorce, but I'd rather have diapers, milk and clothes for my growing son first. I realize unless I make it legal he will not provide for my son. It breaks my heart that I've linked myself to a man like that. We live in a different state--came here with clothes and a crib. I'd just purchased a new fridge, washer and dryer that he has in his 4br, 2.5 bath home and I had to leave it. THIS WHOLE THING ABSOLUTELY SUCKS!!!