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View Full Version : Frustrated with TN & IN Child Support


whatchildsupport
03-31-2006, 07:57 AM
Wondering if anybody has any helpful info or ideas on what I can do........

Background:
I have a son with my ex-husband. I'm in Indiana, my ex is in Tennessee. I left him when I was pregnant - ex was a drug abuser (still is), long story made short - that's why I left. My son is almost 16. To date, my ex has paid less than one year's worth of support (and his support is low!).

There is currently a warrant out for his arrest for Contempt of Juvenile Court - big deal............ this happened a couple years ago and he coughed up $80. Apparently he knows about the warrant because he's made a payment of $40. Whoohoo.

I've been trying to help my child support administrator here in Indiana (believe me, she acts like she could use help :p ) She's been waiting for over a month to hear from TN - they haven't even informed her that there's a warrant. :confused: I did a warrant search on Shelby County Sheriff's website. She didn't know there was a payment made - it's not posted in IN yet. Found out the payment was made on TN Child Support site.

Anyhoo, he's working but on the road a lot (construction). I have an 'informant' who will let me know when he's back home so that I can alert the Sheriff's Dept. to go collect him.

Anyhoo, when he does get caught, is there anyway that I can ask that he not be released on bail when he does get caught? (presuming I find out in a timely manner) I do know that when he posts bond that the bond can be applied to the back child support at the discretion of the court. Would a judge give any serious consideration to this if I wrote to the court? I'm to the point where I want some serious lump-sum payments for my son - college isn't too far off and my husband & I sure can't afford to pay for tuition if he doesn't get a scholarship. Tennessee Child Support ends at age 18 or when the child graduates high school - whichever comes last. Unlike many states, child support does not last until age 21 if the child is in college.

Anybody know if this "Contempt of Juvenile Court" is always a misdemeanor? Here in Indiana if it's over $5,000 owed it's considered felony non-support. Does TN have such a thing?

I have never gotten a tax intercept or anything - I don't think he's been filing taxes. I've turned his SS# in to the IRS for tax fraud, but apparently nothing's ever come from it. Most of the time he works under the table. Wish I could find out who he's working for now - I'd turn them in too. One time he was working and I got one payment that was garnished from his paycheck. Of course, he quit!

No, there's been no liens placed against anything. He doesn't own a home - he's 45 & still lives with his mommy. I don't know if he has a vehicle in his name or any bank accounts, but isn't that something that should have been looked into?

Nope, I don't think much of the Child Support administration here in Indiana or in Tennessee.

Ideas anybody?

xena
04-02-2006, 01:18 PM
Is your ex self-employed? If not- why aren't the payments being garnished?

whatchildsupport
04-02-2006, 06:30 PM
If you mean does he has his own business - then no. He's good at finding people who will pay him "under the table". A couple of years ago he was employed by a temporary firm, I received one $80 payment that was garnished......... then he quit and went back to working under the table. C'est la vie.......... :rolleyes:

xena
04-02-2006, 07:43 PM
If you mean does he has his own business - then no. He's good at finding people who will pay him "under the table". A couple of years ago he was employed by a temporary firm, I received one $80 payment that was garnished......... then he quit and went back to working under the table. C'est la vie.......... :rolleyes:
"working under the table" can be viewed by the court as self employment. So you or the CSE needs to subpoena all of his financial info- bank records, tax returns, etc. If he hasn't been filing, the court will ask him why not and then actually order him to file taxes from now on.

If you are looking for some money for CS, you and CSE need to do evrything you can to get him working and keep him working so that the CS can be garnished. However, if you are looking for punishment only, ask the CSE to charge him with felony non support, which will send him to prison, but prevent him from being garnished.

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