California
Do you have some advice?: My ex does not have a social security card and so no child support is ever possible to collect from him. He agrees to give $50 every week yet ends up not showing up or just says next week and so on. He also lies to our five year old son about coming at a certain time or on a certain day. I ignored his calls for a while and one day I picked up and he cried asking to see his son. I cooperated with him to visit his son, putting aside the money issue, yet later he lied to our son again and left him waiting. I don't know what to do or how much more to take, I'm loosing patience. I want to not pick up his calls and avoid any contact with him. My son likes being with him, but is also hurts him when his dad just fails to do what he promised. What can I do?

I am not sure what to tell you because you need to decide what you want to do on your own and in the best interest of the child. It may be best in a situation like this to ensure that you have sole custody of the child with no mandated visitation, or visitation at your discretion. The court can order that support be set at a minimum even if the father has no social security number, if there is a name and address or some kind of information. Another option is to ask the father to terminate his parental rights, so that if he shows up and wishes to see the child, it is up to you if he does so, but he has no rights to see the child or financial obligation to the child. It really is a difficult thing to advise on because there is practical reality, but then there is the desire for parent and child to at least know the other.