My twin daughters were put into placement with children and family services when they were 1 1/2 years old. I had seperated from the military and could not find a job. I filed for child support, but they served my daughters' father in the wrong county...when they transferred the case to Lexington, KY, they somehow lost the summons for support. Since PA Family court did not receive anything back, they closed the case. So, My unemployment ran out and the welfare caseworkers told me I was not eligible for welfare due to my previous income..mind you I was not working..but they were looking at my previous income. Anyway, to make a long story short, I did something drastic...I left my twin daughters alone for 1/2 hour to clean a restaurant for $30.00 to pay for my daughters' ear drop prescriptions...I did not have insurance...and needed to care for my daughters. I was a single parent with no family support. Anyway, while my daughters were in placement, I went through nursing school, did everything I needed to do to get my children back, and I did...one year and two months later. Mean while drugged out mothers were getting their kids back in one month....I never did drugs nor did I drink...I was just a desperate mother who was trying to care for her children....
Now, 9 1/2 years later, I receive a summons for child support. Children and Family Services, are now suing me for back child support. They want me to pay $1599.00 a month for each month my children were in foster care. Mind you, the CYS case worker never showed for any meetings, visitations or anything. How can they expect me to pay this almost 10 years later?
Is there a statute of limitations or something? My mother, who was the "foster parent" received $900.00 a month for my twins...not $1599.00 and I paid for medical care, not welfare. I paid for doctor's visits, their immunizations, etc....because when my mother submitted the bills to CYS, my mom kept getting billed....so I just saved my student loan money and what was left over from my GI Bill and put it towards my children. I paid for their clothes and what ever else I was able to give my mother ontop of the money she was getting from CYS.
Can someone please answer me on this?
They want me to submit all my w-2's and tax returns since 1997.
Why should I have to submit tax returns for the years after I got my children back?
This really isn't making any sense to me. I think I would understand if they summoned me a year or two after I got them back, not 9 1/2 years later.

When it comes to family court and CPS the first rule of operational concerns is more about $$$ than actual concern for the children. From a PR stand point they must offer some level or service, but it all must be paid for. Who or how they get it is of little concern, just as long as the State does not pay. While the responsibility for your kids belongs to no one except you and the father. The circumstances is not an issue of defense. The can and will come after who ever they can to regain money paid out with high interest rates for unpaid balances.
The argument of fairness or any excuses has no bearing. Either you or the father will have to pay this amount. As to visitation rights, any parent has the right to visitation unless they are proven unfit or a danger to the child. Your personal feelings has no legal backing. When it comes to the children, it can be argued they have been alienated from him by you. From what you have written, I would hope you are not doing or have been guilty of such. What ever the case, the father does have rights to his children. It was not his fault agencies failed to get him the paper work either. If you want him to pay the child support then you need to have CPS file the paper work. Child support and visitation rights are a separate issue. Neither are suppose to have any bearing on the other.

They are probably charging basic monitoring and other support costs such as work that the office staff needed to do to have all of your paperwork in order.

It seems very unfair that they can do this when they were the ones dragging their feet, but I think it would be very difficult to fight.

They most likely want to see the tax returns to see what payments you can afford. I would still press the issue that the father pay Child Support, not just to them, but to you as required. Including all of the back support.

Saxxyman,

I gave their father every opportunity to see his children when they were born. But, he has two other children and weekend visitations was not an option for him. I did ask him for monetary help, he did not provide it.

We had kept in contact even after the girls were put into placement, but it still applies, he did not want anything to do with them.

I wish he did. I harbor no ill feelings towards him. Actually, I admit he was right about many things after the fact. I guess it just takes growing up to do.

I am just worried that if he decided now, he wants to see them, that he will change the way my daughters feel about their dad..(my husband).

I would like my daughters to get to know their biological father. He does have many good qualities that many people lack today. Though, I know what I write does not quite outline this.

I am not an unsuitable mother, though I must say I have come far after the instance of my daughters placement. I just wish I knew then what I know now about help that was out there when I needed it....for assistance wise and how to fight the system.

Funny how many people scam the welfare system, but those who are honest seem to always get burned.

Lessons, we learn in life.

I appreciate the information you gave me. It lets me know what I am in for.

But my question is also this, when I received the court papers, they did not have and address or anything about him on the papers. Should I report this then?