help please!!!

[cohiba]

What is the name of your state? Florida

About 5yrs ago, I received a letter from the mother, (ex-girlfriend), that she no longer wants me to pay her child support. At the time, I may have owed her about $1500. Yesterday, I received a notice in the mail from the agency in her state, (Ohio), letting me know that I owe ...app $20,000 in back child support. Needless to say, I WAS VERY SURPRISED! All this time has gone by, and I am just now receiving this news...THATS NOT RIGHT! Well, I simply cannot afford to pay that amount. Not only that, I am afraid at any time they will be knocking on my door to arrest me! Is there anything I can do? Can they expidite me back to Ohio to charge me with this? What are my options?

 

[Rushia]

I live in NY and the only way to modify a court ordered support is to go thru the courts. A note from the mother meant nothing. You could try to go for a modification and if you have the note from the mother maybe they can help you.

 

[cohiba]

...thanks..but...

I don't mind trying to make payments/arrears, but can they actually expidite me back to Ohio against my will, or is it possible to work things out here in Florida?

They sent me a form letting me know they will take out child support from my income tax return. Also, I received a form from a collection agency.

 

[stealth2]

I don't mind trying to make payments/arrears, but can they actually expidite me back to Ohio against my will, or is it possible to work things out here in Florida?

I don't think FedEx ships people. Oh, wait - do you mean extradite? It seems as though they are already dealing with getting the money out of you, so you probably don't need to worry about being arrested. But if there's a hearing in OH, I'd sure make an effort to be there, or have a lawyer there to represent you.

 

[Rushia]

You might even be able to "attend" any hearings by phone, although stealth is right and you would stand a better chance with a lawyer there for you.

 

[cohiba]

i haven't received any notice for a hearing yet....

....will that be their next step?

Regarding extradition, I did'nt think they could/would do that since technically this is a misdemenor...isn't it? What should I do to prevent the possibility of arrest?

 

[Rushia]

Not necessarily. They may just start garnishing your wages and will most likely take your tax returns for some of the arrears. When the mother sent you that note one of you should have filed for a modification. My X has another little girl and when the mother relocated, she dropped all arrears and support. She was supposed to file for the modification (court stipulated) and left without doing so. When we filed for the modification she was allowed to "attend" by phone. It just may be worth looking into. If you are still in contact with the mother, perhaps you two can work something out and go to court for modification. As far as being arrested, as stealth said, you probably don't have to worry about it as you already have received notice about payment. If you are willing to pay, then as long as you make the proper arrangements, whatever the notice says, then you shouldn't have to worry about it

 

[no$$4us]

interstate cases

I am not altogether sure that you did not know that some day you would be responsible for your child support.
The child support agency will work with you to pay off that debt in small payments if you cooperate. If you do not federal measures can be taken.
Your driver's license can be taken and your tax returns can be taken.
Talk to child support in Florida.
I have the number I used to live in Florida and deal with child support
1-800-622-5437.
You can also get guidelines from Ohio laws on the internet as well as interstate case information.
As long as you are outside of the state and keep moving she will have a very difficult time locating you.
Don't keep up your regular driver's license, and put your bills under someone else's name.
State's don't like to cooperate and Florida is heavily over-burdened. They take about a year to process a case even for another state.
If you wanted to be a responsible caring person you may want to pay--not because it would go to your ex--but because it would make that child a bit happier and it was because of you.

 

[stealth2]

no$$4us - are you actually giving advice on how to avoid paying support?

And could you PLEASE use paragraphs? (you know, extra space between them)

 

[no$$4us]

Offering advice on how not to pay

I am not really giving advice on how not to pay but let me say this.
child support and the laws that should protect our kids are not there.
I find them giving me tons of excuses as to why they could not find my ex-husband who is a chemical engineer, always working a good job, always had a driver's license. As a matter of fact a Florida driver's license for 4 years when he was "unfindable" by Florida.
The driver's license was never suspended during that time.
He wa required by law to up-date us with the current employer and address.
When I asked for an increase in child support they took a year to find him --and give him a chance to appeal the modification rather than send to the last known address and then pay the consequences of not cooperating.
Then he moved the case to NC who wants nothing to do with the case.
I am currently being represented by no state and not by my choice.
I can't believe that he can request a transfer and then dump the case.
I know Child support enforcement is not working because there are a lot of independent collectors trying to help as well when we are frustrated by the system. I have to go through the state because this is an interstate case.
My kids and there welfare are so far down the line as far as concern for their welfare goes with any governmental agency goes.
I also have never gotten any public assistance. My ex put me in this situation and the dumped on us.
When nobody goes to child support because they are awful, they claim a huge success rate---sort of like the education system and their claims to success.
The laws need to change and a bunch of child support workers should be fired.
My case worker was shocked to find out how much child support Florida charges compared to NC. She said she was surprised my ex could live off of $2000 a month while paying us $1000. My kids did go to private school and it cost much more than that. I don't need a case worker that can judge me like that.

 

[audster]

Did the OP say he got a letter from a private collection agency? if the state has turned the case over to a private collection agency, he can bankruptcy out of it.

 

[cohiba]

hey audster

Yes...some collection agency recently, (last week), sent me a notice to contact them to make arrangements for payment. I thought that was unusual. I thought it was a ploy from the child support agency to get me to respond.

 

[audster]

Then you may have a way out...it is my understanding that once CS has ben turned over to a private collection agency, it can be discharged in bankruptcy like any other debt. Would one on the lawyers here please verify this, I'm sure I saw this somewhere. Hope i helped!

 

[stevek3]

I don't think FedEx ships people. Oh, wait - do you mean extradite? It seems as though they are already dealing with getting the money out of you, so you probably don't need to worry about being arrested. But if there's a hearing in OH, I'd sure make an effort to be there, or have a lawyer there to represent you.

Get with the program. FedEx ships ANYTHING. To give you a very recent example, yesterday I bought my wife a vibrating cadaver from the Sharper Image. FedEx is going to deliver it to my house next Tuesday.

 

[stevek3]

Then you may have a way out...it is my understanding that once CS has ben turned over to a private collection agency, it can be discharged in bankruptcy like any other debt. Would one on the lawyers here please verify this, I'm sure I saw this somewhere. Hope i helped!

Uhh...no. An understaffed county agency and the necessity for a contract with a private collection agency does not subsequently equate to CHA-CHING! for the guy who owes the child support. It's still non-dischargeable.

And what's with this he "may have a way out" crapola? Speaking for his kids and whoever's trying to raise them, there's very few things that stink more than a guy who doesn't pay his child support.