Need some advice here please folks, things are starting to go from bad to worse.

I have primary custody of my three children from my divorce in 2002, and my ex-wife was ordered to pay child support. Since the finalization of the divorce, she has been in arrears from the get-go, and things have always been tough.

In March she was fired from her job and has not gotten another job since. She has been collecting unemployment but she has not even attempted to give anything over from that to help out with what she owes. Additionally, she has been doing some 'under the table' work for cash to pay her bills. This money it not even taxed and from what I have learned has actually been the same and in some cases more than what she was making in her last 'real' job.

As of this writing, including what she was in arrears previously, she is behind over $5500.00. Because of this I am now in jeapordy of loosing my house because I have been unable to keep up with everything. And there is even now a possibility I may loose my job.

The county child support office doesn't seem to be much help, all they seem to do is want to send her a certified letter and what-not. And with the situation I am in I can't even afford to get my attorney involved.

Thoughts? Ideas? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Need some advice here please folks, things are starting to go from bad to worse.

I have primary custody of my three children from my divorce in 2002, and my ex-wife was ordered to pay child support. Since the finalization of the divorce, she has been in arrears from the get-go, and things have always been tough.

In March she was fired from her job and has not gotten another job since. She has been collecting unemployment but she has not even attempted to give anything over from that to help out with what she owes. Additionally, she has been doing some 'under the table' work for cash to pay her bills. This money it not even taxed and from what I have learned has actually been the same and in some cases more than what she was making in her last 'real' job.

As of this writing, including what she was in arrears previously, she is behind over $5500.00. Because of this I am now in jeapordy of loosing my house because I have been unable to keep up with everything. And there is even now a possibility I may loose my job.

The county child support office doesn't seem to be much help, all they seem to do is want to send her a certified letter and what-not. And with the situation I am in I can't even afford to get my attorney involved.

Thoughts? Ideas? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You can file a motion for contempt. You can do this yourself, go to your local courthouse and see the clerk to find the proper forms.

This is a situation where the parents need to sit down, talk, be mature, try to figure out how to do best by the kids in a difficult situation. You know the situation, so maybe you can get more work to save your home, or figure something else out. You can present the child support order to the unemployment office and ask them to withhold some of the unemployment, but usually not more than 25% will be withheld since the person needs subsistence.

Well I am acctually a paying mom, but before I figured out that I shouldnt depend on tht money and work around what I had coming in so when it doesnt come it doesnt hurt.

Contact CSE and let them know she is on unemployment and they can withhold (garnish) a portion for child support. I am not sure what percent. Here are some helpful links I thought you may like.
http://ocse.acf.hhs.gov/ext/irg/sps/report.cfm?
State=TX&CFID=396996&CFTOKEN=94372911
Texas Child Support Profile


http://www.oag.state.tx.us/child/index.shtml
General Program Information for Child Support

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/AG_Publications/txts/crimnonsup/
Handbook for Child Support

http://www.raggiolaw.com/txart02.html
Texas Child Support Issues

http://library.law.smu.edu/resguide/support.htm
Child Support Laws in Texas

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/FA/content/htm/fa.005.00
.000154.00.htm
COURT-ORDERED CHILD SUPPORT

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/fatoc.html
Texas Statutes Family Code

http://singleparents.about.com/od/childsuppor1/a/TX_csnews.htm
Texas Child Support Resources Links to Texas Child Support
Enforcement Agencies and Resources

http://www.state.tx.us/category.jsp?language=eng&categoryId=7.2.4
Check out all the Resources from this website

Child Support Case Inquiry Form
This online form allows you to securely submit a question about your
existing child support case.

Child Support Evaders
This site provides information about individuals who are listed as
Child Support Evaders because they have avoided their court-ordered
obligation to pay child support. It also gives guidelines and
requirements for a parent to be listed as a Child Support Evader.

Child Support Interactive
This interactive system allows parents, attorneys and others
involved in child support cases to file complaints, review existing
cases and receive other information from the Child Support Division
of the Office of the Attorney General.

Child Support Services
As the official child support enforcement agency for the State of
Texas, the Office of the Attorney General provides services for
parents who wish to obtain or provide support for their children.

http://www.divorcenet.com/states/texas/txart02
Texas Child Support Issues

http://www.childsupportcentral.com/
Child Support Central

Dawn-IL