To date I am owned a total of over $24,000. I am tired and sad over this. Each time I seek out an attorney for the matter-they request over $2,000 for each case-up front! I usually always made too much money to qualify for financial help-though could not afford it since raising children on your own ins not cheap and due to this-I live check to check. The last time I had an attorney-Ed David of Farmington; I won the case with almost $4,000 paid to me. My ex was supposed to pay court fees. However, the reality of it was that the check was signed over to my attorney until the attorney fees were paid. That action was many years ago and I never saw one cent of it. I felt as if I was forced to sign it. How does a single mother even have faith in the court system after that? I am used to raising my daughters on my own and and fine with it. But I am sad over the fact that-nothing has been done about this as my daughters keep getting older. No modifications have been made-despite the law since I cannot afford an attorney. I am afraid to. I could use the help.
All I can do is write about this injustice and hope that karma with strike back at them. I know the laws on child support since I have researched them several times over the law. Federal laws on child support are supposed to take over the state ones. Not so in the reality of it all. I have seen it in black and while too many times how-despite what state either parties live in-the amount should be modified accordingly. This was never done-despite my numerous efforts. The order from my 17 year old daughter was made in Massachusetts and I live in Maine. Under federal llaws-the order should still be up for review and modification. Maine has refused to do this-despite the laws since it is an out of state order. This particular order was made before she was even born (long story) and based on the fact that he was a student at that time. He now works in the Iron Workers Union. I have requested reviews for many years based on that and her increasing age! Nothing was ever done on their end about it.
My other issue is that both of my exes work and live out of state. They put all of their assets, including property under other peoples names and know how to avoid being served. They have had their licenses suspended-but to no avail-they drive anyway. I have even heard that my ex-husband Bill (who has not paid one cent since January of this year and owes over $14,ooo) was recently working in Montanna. Not one cent again was paid in child support. I have had garnishes on both of them since my girls were each babies and have had the money depositied into a separate account-they have both paid in the past with rubber checks before the garnish.) I have not been able to file modifications due to their ages since I cannot afford an attorney and it is almost impossible to track them to serve them! I have even signed up for help on national collection sites. Responce from them-nothing. It seems as if everyone is afraid to work on my case!
I have recently had to make the horrible decision to stop visitation. I have been pressured for years by everyone I know on this-even the local authorities! I hate doing this-but I do not know what else to do. I am even prepared to go to jail over this. I feel that they have been in contempt of the visitation order (never once did they take their daughters on visitation at the alloted time-not once!) I have never stopped them from seeing their daughters in the past, despite their lack of requesting visits. But what other choice do I have? I figure at least they can afford court. So if this action brings them to court on their money-I am willing to take a chance.
I just am so sad over this whole thing. I do not know how they can get away with all of this. Yet, they do! :( How else am I supposed to help my daughters? Their whole lives, I have been lucky to receive any child support at all from them. I have supported my daughters on my own since they were babies and have always done well with that with great pride. I have been dissappointed over and over again with with how the court seems to let them get away with it all. Please can someone offer advice. I am hoping that with my not letting my children see them-it will inspire them to bring this to court on their own expense. This is for my daughters most of all-I just wish they would see this. Can anyone offer some advice on another way?