I have had an order of child support issued from the Nash County court system for $270 per month from David since December. Almost immediately he got behind. I have never been able to count on the money so I have learned to personally do without and use my own "fun money" to give to my child instead of myself.
It wasn't long before we were back in court and the judge ordered that David 1.) Supply emplyment information so that his wages could be garnished and if he were to change jobs to always keep the court current so his wages would continue to be garnished 2.) Keep his address on file with the court and update as necessary and 3.) pay an additional $50 per month until his arrears were caught up.
At that point his arrears was 300-500, which was a lot but nothing comapred to what it is now. Since the court order he has changed jobs several times, changed addresses at least twice and has not complied with a single part of the court order.
Now he is nearly $4000 behind in child support and has had a warrant out for his arrest since May. But here is the "kicker." David is on probation and has to report to a probation officer weekly. Unable to attain his address I called the clerk of court for child support and gave her the probation officers name and office phone number. She managed to get an address from him... But that is IT.
For some reason no one can seem to find him, but yet he still has weekly visitation with my child. He sends family members to come get him so I can't have him served with his warrant. Wouldn't I love to keep my child at home, because it seems that if he doesn't help me financially support the child he shouldn't be aloud to have my precious weekends with my child. I work and go to school full time and have numerous household responsibilities that keep me going all week long. It would be nice to spend my down time with my child but instead I have to send him off every weekend to see his dead beat "Dad".
His family members are very aware of the situation and know that there is a warrant out for his arrest. But rather than do the right thing for the good of my child (obviously with the extra money every month I could provide him with a lot more than I can with just my little extra money) they choose to assist him in evading the law. But of course, there is no law that makes aiding and abetting a dead beat dad illegal.
The court supplies me with a court appointed attourney, and though I have had the same one for the last three years he couldn't remember my name and face if it were posted on his office door. I have tried to contact him numerous times in an effort to get this matter resolved. Of course I can never reach him by phone and he has never returned a single of my messages. Afterall, he is court appointed and that really limits his ability to collect for "services" rendered on my behalf. If you ask me, they should allow those attorneys to charge their full price even if they are court appointed in matters of dead beat parents. Afterall, it isn't the responsible parent that has to pay for the attorney, it is the dead beat.
Every month I get a new court date notice in the mail. I could take off the last Monday of every month to go sit in court long enough to hear that I am, once again, not on the list because the 6 month old warrant has still not been served. But that nonsense isn't worth cashing in my hard-earned ticket to nursing school.
I am at a loss. Every place I turn for help so far has yielded nothing but dead ends. I tried to get the court clerk to help me. But it of course was not her responsibility and she told me to call my faithful court-appointed attorney. Calling him has yielded no results. The probation officer is as crooked as a question mark and rather than work to help me he acts more as an informant to let David know of my attempts to find justice for my son. Funny thing is, none of these people, including the father see that my fight is not for myself. I am fighting so that if nothing else I can put the money away for my child's college fund.
Please help. I am tired of being run around by the system. I am a hard working individual who wants the best for my child. That is no crime. But limiting my ability to give my child some of the things he needs is, espeically when this could be so easily resolved should the justice, legal, and law enforcement systems choose to lend a hand.
Janice
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
U.S.A.
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