How does Oregon serve the non-custodial parent?

[mamashakesit]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Arkansas / Oregon


I live and Arkansas and until recently, so did my child's father. Our daughter was born in Oregon. He managed to elude child support in Arkansas by putting his vehicles in his girlfriend's name and not attaching his name to anything that might trace him to an address. I spoke with the county CS office several times and even though they had his girlfriends address (who he lived with), they wouldn't serve him because the post office had no record of him receiving mail there. They told me that was the ONLY way to verify an address for him and they wouldn't serve him until that happened.

A couple weeks ago, he moved back to Oregon without telling me, because apparently, CS decided to try all those addresses I'd given him and he knew they were getting close to him (this was about 7 months after I filed.) Ironically, Oregon CS called me around the same time and asked if I needed any help with my CS case, now that I lived in Arkansas. I initially told them no, but when I found out he'd moved out there, I called them back and they said they would assist with the search and serve. I know exactly where he is probably staying, but does Oregon operate the same way as Arkansas?

Or if they find where he is will they just walk up to the door and serve him, regardless of an established address? He will do the same and not attach his name to anything that could lead to his address...and he will probably be staying between a couple of places. I'm starting to wonder if it's worth the hassle and bother anymore. Sometimes I think it may be easier later on to change her name if I just do away with the whole CS thing. Any feedback? Thanks.

 

[Proserpina]

Sometimes I think it may be easier later on to change her name if I just do away with the whole CS thing. Any feedback? Thanks.

What the heck does that mean?

 

[mamashakesit]

It means she has his last name and he's done nothing for her. It's my understanding that it's a little easier to change a minors last name if the non-custodial parent has no record of financial support. From what I've read, Oregon is a state where I wouldn't even need to notify him of my intention to change her name if I can prove he hasn't financially supported her. Arkansas...not quite as easy.

 

[Proserpina]

It means she has his last name and he's done nothing for her. It's my understanding that it's a little easier to change a minors last name if the non-custodial parent has no record of financial support. From what I've read, Oregon is a state where I wouldn't even need to notify him of my intention to change her name if I can prove he hasn't financially supported her. Arkansas...not quite as easy.

You're not going to be able to erase him that easily from her life.

 

[mamashakesit]

He's done a great job of erasing himself by only seeing her twice in 7 months. Really, I shouldn't have even added the thing about the name. I'm really wondering if they will be able to serve him in Oregon without an established address.

 

[LdiJ]

He's done a great job of erasing himself by only seeing her twice in 7 months. Really, I shouldn't have even added the thing about the name. I'm really wondering if they will be able to serve him in Oregon without an established address.

Its possible that they can serve him without a legally established address. However, you need to understand that serving him doesn't mean that you will actually be able to collect from him. Someone who is that determined not to pay child support will go to great lengths to avoid paying support, even if it means tanking their own financial life in the process. It would be best to plan YOUR financial life as if you will never see any child support from him. Then, if you do, you can treat it as an unexpected extra instead of needing it to support your child.