RiverSong42
Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York
So, I haven't received court-ordered support for over a year, with one exception. I received the father's tax return. It was a one-time payment in March, and the court considers this a sign of "good faith". CSE has taken his driver's license, fishing license, seized (empty) bank accounts, and docked (non-existent) paychecks. He hasn't legitimately worked at all this year, and I don't expect him to start before January at this point. We go to court every 2 months or so, but the judge keep adjourning so he can find a job, file for disability, complete drug treatment, get a lawyer (twice), etc.. He knows how to play the system and keep getting adjournments. Meanwhile he smokes a pack of cigarettes a day and pays the bill on a smartphone, money that could easily be put towards his (pathetic) $32/week.
I'm assuming telling the court that he does have an under-the-table income of some kind would be pointless, as I can't really prove it. And even if he is found guilty (again) of willful non-payment, all they will do is put him in jail for 30 days, and he still won't pay child support, and I will have to go through this whole process again. Part of me thinks that I should give up, he will never pay and it's not worth the stress. The other part feels that I should keep going to court over and over out of sheer revenge. (Of course, I may end up suffering more than he does as a result.)
So, my question is, legally is there anything else I can do?
(I think I know the answer... )
So, I haven't received court-ordered support for over a year, with one exception. I received the father's tax return. It was a one-time payment in March, and the court considers this a sign of "good faith". CSE has taken his driver's license, fishing license, seized (empty) bank accounts, and docked (non-existent) paychecks. He hasn't legitimately worked at all this year, and I don't expect him to start before January at this point. We go to court every 2 months or so, but the judge keep adjourning so he can find a job, file for disability, complete drug treatment, get a lawyer (twice), etc.. He knows how to play the system and keep getting adjournments. Meanwhile he smokes a pack of cigarettes a day and pays the bill on a smartphone, money that could easily be put towards his (pathetic) $32/week.
I'm assuming telling the court that he does have an under-the-table income of some kind would be pointless, as I can't really prove it. And even if he is found guilty (again) of willful non-payment, all they will do is put him in jail for 30 days, and he still won't pay child support, and I will have to go through this whole process again. Part of me thinks that I should give up, he will never pay and it's not worth the stress. The other part feels that I should keep going to court over and over out of sheer revenge. (Of course, I may end up suffering more than he does as a result.)
So, my question is, legally is there anything else I can do?
(I think I know the answer... )