Oh man, is this THE place kind of I've been wondering about or dreaming of???? Hi all!!! My name is Gene. I'm a single dad for two aunry boys, twelve and thirteen. OK, a little history?
Two weeks after being awarded custody in 1999, my ex voluntarily gave the boys to me. Said she couldn't handle it or some BS like that. So, thats how I started as a single dad. Now jump forward four years.
After being ordered to pay @$200/month in child support my ex quickly racked up quite an arrears. Her monthly obligation was occasionally adjusted to reflect the new arrears (payment amount raised). Ultimately her payments just stopped all together. When her arrears reached $10,000 PLUS I learned to be a constant unyielding thorn in the prosecutors backside! Before any action was taken, I was stopping by the prosecutors office (every other day at the end) and asking "where things were?" They finally issued a warrant, she was arrested, ordered to spend thirty days in the local pokey and was released after eleven or so. Now lets jump to the present.
Again a sizeable arrears has been earned and I am trying to find any way possible to get MY justice system to do what they are supposed to do! I am wide open to ANY suggestions!!!

Hi Gene, and welcome to the forum. Yes there are a fair amount of single fathers raising their children these days As for the child support, it sounds like you've already been doing a lot of what you are able to do, not sure there's anything else that can be done. I don't have any real advice on what you could do beyond what you already are to make it happen, many single parents face the same problem trying to collect support. In my honest opinion, they system is usually spending their "understaffed" "overworked" time collecting the state money first...that is going after non custodial parents whose ex's are on state aid, been there done that before I got custody and with my older daughters.
Oh...... do they have a wage garnishment in place for her? If your court order states that she is to pay you directly, you can change that to have it paid through the child support collections agency and often they'll use more of their resources, powers to collect that money regularly, like wage assignments, besides placing tax liens etc for arrears, to help collect that money.

A fair amount of single dads out there yes, but you wouldn't believe some of the looks I get when someone hears that I am one. Like I'm from Mars or sumthin'! As far as the wage withholding goes; the ex bounces from one job to another waiting tables. So, the wage withholding only "withholds" a small percent because that job doesn't even have to pay minimum wage here in Ohio. And if you wait tables you can get away with not claiming your tips. Thanks for your advice by the way! It's a game that I'm getting very tired of BUT child support is the only parenting area/requirement that is supported by a law, so it's the only one I can force!

Welcome to the site Gene.
You have found a gathering place for a great bunch of people.

Hi there Gene...
I totally understand what you're going through. I'm from Canada though so things are a little different here. I can say though....continue to be a thorn and do what you need to do...I know there are others here who may be able to help you out...Welcome!!

Hi Gene,

Have you tried opening up a case with the Child Support Enforcement Agency in your state? I've included links to Ohio. I went thru them here in FL and let me tell you they are awesome!

http://jfs.ohio.gov/Ocs/supportmain.stm#local

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/

OHIO
Office of Child Support Enforcement
Department of Human Services
30 East Broad Street - 31st Floor
Columbus, OH 43266-0423
(614) 752-6561
FAX: (614) 752-9760
1-800-686-1556

Hi Gene,

Welcome to the forum. I'm a single Mom, and my ex doesn't pay any child support, so I am afraid I can't offer any advice. Good luck to you, and kudos for being there for your kids!

:welcome: :welcome:

Great site and awesome people.

gdajj

i enjoyed reading your story. my mother told me the squeeky wheel gets teh greese. well i would have done the same things as you did. i think i would make it part of my morning routine, is call the DA.
but yea there are a few single dads