Domestic Violence, Child Support, Visitation

[dyrset]

What is the name of your state? Oregon

My ex-husband was abusive during our marriage and was convicted of domestic violence assault charges. We divorced and he was recently released from prison after accruing 7 felonies in a meth-induced crime spree. Due to the felony domestic violence charges, he was not allowed to have contact with myself or my children for five years, which was easy enough while he was incarcerated. A child support order was imposed at the time of divorce and he accrued arrears during his incarceration and continues to, as he's not paying child support. He is currently $25,000 in arrears. I have heard that he is now working, and am wondering if there is a way to find out where so that I can pursue back child support without him being notified. Safety is my number one concern, so if he will be notified, it's not worth the risk.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by dyrset

What is the name of your state? Oregon

My ex-husband was abusive during our marriage and was convicted of domestic violence assault charges. We divorced and he was recently released from prison after accruing 7 felonies in a meth-induced crime spree. Due to the felony domestic violence charges, he was not allowed to have contact with myself or my children for five years, which was easy enough while he was incarcerated. A child support order was imposed at the time of divorce and he accrued arrears during his incarceration and continues to, as he's not paying child support. He is currently $25,000 in arrears. I have heard that he is now working, and am wondering if there is a way to find out where so that I can pursue back child support without him being notified. Safety is my number one concern, so if he will be notified, it's not worth the risk.

Of course he is going to be notified....and he is certainly going to know when they start taking the money out of his check.

[Blue Meanie]

Originally Posted by LdiJ

Of course he is going to be notified....and he is certainly going to know when they start taking the money out of his check.

LdiJ...I think the OP is asking if there is a way to get the back support without the x being notified of her address.

OP....is that what you were asking?

[Gracie3787]

Originally Posted by dyrset

What is the name of your state? Oregon

My ex-husband was abusive during our marriage and was convicted of domestic violence assault charges. We divorced and he was recently released from prison after accruing 7 felonies in a meth-induced crime spree. Due to the felony domestic violence charges, he was not allowed to have contact with myself or my children for five years, which was easy enough while he was incarcerated. A child support order was imposed at the time of divorce and he accrued arrears during his incarceration and continues to, as he's not paying child support. He is currently $25,000 in arrears. I have heard that he is now working, and am wondering if there is a way to find out where so that I can pursue back child support without him being notified. Safety is my number one concern, so if he will be notified, it's not worth the risk.

First to find out where he is working- is the CSE agency involved in your case? If they are, talk to them, they will be able to find out by checking the New Hires data base.

CSE can file for a modification and for payment of arrears. Yes, he will be notified of it, however, he does NOT have to be notified of your address. When you talk to CSE, give them proof that he was convicted of DV, and they should be able to keep your address confidential.

If CSE is not involved in your case, check with the court clerk, most states have some form of statute that provides for keeping DV victim's address confidential in family court cases. That way you would be able to file a petition/motion and serve him without him knowing your address.

[dyrset]

I guess I wasn't clear. I have a child support order and the case is with the Division of Child Support, however, I have not received any money...ever. The DA's office handling the case asked that I provide them with any information that may help my case, so I always try to keep my ears open as I know they are inundated with dead beat dad cases. I recently heard through the grapevine that my ex is working and I would like to find out where so I can pass along the info. However, due to the past abuse, I was hoping this was on a public information website or something where I could remain anonymous. I understand that the State will eventually catch up with him and garnish his wages, but I was only hoping to speed up the process.

Originally Posted by dyrset

I guess I wasn't clear. I have a child support order and the case is with the Division of Child Support, however, I have not received any money...ever. The DA's office handling the case asked that I provide them with any information that may help my case, so I always try to keep my ears open as I know they are inundated with dead beat dad cases. I recently heard through the grapevine that my ex is working and I would like to find out where so I can pass along the info. However, due to the past abuse, I was hoping this was on a public information website or something where I could remain anonymous. I understand that the State will eventually catch up with him and garnish his wages, but I was only hoping to speed up the process.

Well you probably haven't recieved any money because he wasn't earning any kind of an income in prison. If that's the case, where do you think the money would come from?

If you have an order through division of cs, then his arreages will be factored in and a monthly amount will be ordered. Federal law allows up to a certain percentage. As instructed, ask your caseworker to look into the New Hires and they should be able to do the confirmation work from there. If YOU want it "sped up" then you have to initiate it. They are too swamped with cases so they aren't going to initiate anything unless you call them.

Have you bothered going to court to get another protection order. Most state statutes provide someone else (i.e. a victims rights advocate or a lawyer) to be in your place. If you don't do that, you should be able to simply provide a copy of the protection order with a letter asking that all of your personal information (address, telephone number and social security number) remain confidential. Anyone does have the right to request such confidentiality regardless, but the protection order works in your favor. A CURRRENT one is even stronger. You might want to look into it. You should be able to go to your state Supreme Court website (just google it) and most states *should* provide a printable form (.pdf file) to fill out and print and take it to the court.

[dyrset]

I have renewed my restraining order faithfully every year since the original order was signed in 2002. Although, since it's only a piece of paper and not a bodyguard, I'm still cautious. He is also not allowed to contact me for five years per his post prison supervision/parole agreement; again, better safe than sorry. I did not expect child support while he was in prison, since it's obvious that he was not earning any money. He is no longer incarcerated and supposedly working (and worked prior to prison), it's now that I was hoping to get some information regarding his current employment to assist CSE in speeding up the process of garnishment. I am assuming that that is not information that I can obtain on my own via a public access website. That was what I was hoping to find out by using this advice website...hoping someone knew of such a website that would offer employment information. The "people finder" type sites don't guarantee that particular info, even if one buys the "premier package".