I could go on explaining everything that FOC has NOT done for me, but this report would be a novel.
But there is one thing that really hit a nerve, and lets forget about the fact that for 7 yrs, FOC has allowed my ex to walk free from his responsibility to his children, and they have ignored their own system, laws, and court orders. Doesn't a judge's ruling mean anything anymore. Or have they become paper pushers just like everyone else.
Anyway... Last summer, even though my ex is over $ 38,000 dollars in the rears, I have complied to the visitation agreement that was made when I moved out of state in 1999.
NO matter what was going on with us or the child support, I still made those travel plans to meet at the 1/2 way point, which also was a court order.
Unfortunately, last summer, one of our children had to attend summer school, as it was manditory in order for them to be promoted to the next grade.
Once I realized that this summer school schedule was going to interfere, with the visitation time, that has been scheduled for my ex, I called him.
My ex appeared to understand over the phone, and we agreed that he would take them in August, instead of July. It was not like we never had to modify dates and time due to situations popping up in the past.
As the beginning of August was growing near, the grandparents started calling, as they were the ones that were going to meet me and the children at the 1/2 way point.
During one of our conversations, I was informed that he had recieved sometype of papers from the FOC.
I didn't think much about it, but I thought if it had to do with our docet #, I would get a notification as well. Because I had not recieved anything, I just assumed that it had to do with him.
Well 1 week before I was to travel, I once again was informed with more information regarding those FOC papers my ex recieved.
He had filed charges against me for not complying with the date of the visitation agreement, and that I had not contacted him with any change.
I couldn't understand how he could go to court, file these papers so that he could get the court hearing, and while doing this he's over 38,000 in the rears.
I didn't get no notification from the court, nothing from him, regarding this court hearing, but what I did get, is the expense of driving all the way to Michigan with the kids, to clear my name.
Apparently the FOC, had placed a bench warrant out on me. Needless to say I was pissed, and extremely confused.
I can not understand, how he was able to walk into the FOC, file papers, pay a fee, have 4 copies filed with the court, 2 for the court, one for your ex, and one for yourself. Stand before a judge, claim that I am not complying to the visitation agreement and he is not complying to the court order of paying child support and to prove that, just look at the amount he is in the rears.
I ended up clearing my name, filing papers for the update on the visitation, and returning a month later, when the court gave me a court date to do this.
Unlike my ex, I did send him papers, the same ones I filed with the court. He didn't show, didn't really expect him too.
He was able to pay $25.00 to file with the clerk, and waste everyone elses time and money.
I had to drive to MI twice, pay the clerk myself, spend 3 days downtown, getting all the paper work in before I had to return home.
And then burden the expense again to drive to MI for the update, and drive home.
I missed my daughters sweet 16 birthday, because I was in MI attending to something that should of never happened.
Even after I had showed the court where I had placed the phone call to him, and also showed judge the papers for summer school, in hopes to show that my ex lied and brought false charges against me. It didn't matter to the judge. He just moved me along, like you do with cattle.
Well thanks for listening to my story, and I know that my situation is probably not as bad as most. But I too, have struggled with FOC neglecting my responses, having courts hearings, placing bench warrants on me, and my ex being able to walk in and out of the FOC, and nothing happens to him. I live 600 miles away, I carry the burden of his actions everyday, and so do my children.
Amy
Wilmington, Delaware
U.S.A.
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