CSE in FL is not enforcing support order

[jenderuzza]

FL Broward county
My ex is only supposed to pay $150.00 per week for our twins as per 2004 court order because he never reports his income and works under the table. He has no property to lien. CSE never knows where he is working or his addresses. I call them and tell them. By the time they figure everything out he quits his job and gets a new one so they can't take it out of his paycheks. He has been to court and he always gets out of paying or jail time. He owes us $7,000.00 plus. He doesn't pay anything for medical or daycare which is $1,500.00 per month. Also he claimed the kids in 2005 and received $3,000.00. The IRS did not intercept any of the refund. He is not entiled to claim them and I still haven't filed my 2005 return (I am getting a refund either way). He did not give any of the money to the kids either. I complained. They said he slipped through the cracks. This tax season I complained in advance and tried to find out what to do to make sure his refund was intercepted. They assured me it would be. Guess what, he slipped through the cracks again. I feel that CSE is not doing their job. Where can, I go to complain about them? I cannot afford an attourney. Right now he is working in Alaska. I have no idea if he is an employee or under the table or the name of his company? ?What can I do? Also he knows if he keeps his income low and/or under the table he doesn't have to pay. My expenses for the twins are staggering - $1,500 day care, diapers wipes $125, food $400, clothes $200, shoes $50.00, toys and entertainment $200, bath supplies $50, ballerina lessons $100, babysitting $200, medical bills $100, medical supplies $50, renting an apartment where they have their own room $1,300, furniture,car seats, strollers $750 per year, gas $200, Electric $250, transportation $450, insurance $240, life/disability insc $125, renters insc $25. It is not fair that I have to spend all my time working to pay these bills by myself. I have to work so much I hardley get to see them. It is not fair that I have to spend every dime I earn on their day to day care when he pays as he pleases and goes out drinking, partying, and wasting money. How am I ever going to get anywhere financially? I feel that I make good money, but I am never going to be able to afford a home for our family or take them to Disney world. My girls are the sweetest, cutest, blondest little twins. I don't understand why he doesn't want them to have the best in life. Is there a way that I can get an order that pays for half of their expenses instead of going by his income and modify it when the expenses increase? He may avoid paying by not owning property now, but I am sure he will own a home or have money in the future from not paying child support (his family has money too) and I would like to be reimbursed later rather than never.What is the name of your state?

 

[LdiJ]

FL Broward county
My ex is only supposed to pay $150.00 per week for our twins as per 2004 court order because he never reports his income and works under the table. He has no property to lien. CSE never knows where he is working or his addresses. I call them and tell them. By the time they figure everything out he quits his job and gets a new one so they can't take it out of his paycheks. He has been to court and he always gets out of paying or jail time. He owes us $7,000.00 plus. He doesn't pay anything for medical or daycare which is $1,500.00 per month. Also he claimed the kids in 2005 and received $3,000.00. The IRS did not intercept any of the refund. He is not entiled to claim them and I still haven't filed my 2005 return (I am getting a refund either way). He did not give any of the money to the kids either. I complained. They said he slipped through the cracks. This tax season I complained in advance and tried to find out what to do to make sure his refund was intercepted. They assured me it would be. Guess what, he slipped through the cracks again. I feel that CSE is not doing their job. Where can, I go to complain about them? I cannot afford an attourney. Right now he is working in Alaska. I have no idea if he is an employee or under the table or the name of his company? ?What can I do? Also he knows if he keeps his income low and/or under the table he doesn't have to pay. My expenses for the twins are staggering - $1,500 day care, diapers wipes $125, food $400, clothes $200, shoes $50.00, toys and entertainment $200, bath supplies $50, ballerina lessons $100, babysitting $200, medical bills $100, medical supplies $50, renting an apartment where they have their own room $1,300, furniture,car seats, strollers $750 per year, gas $200, Electric $250, transportation $450, insurance $240, life/disability insc $125, renters insc $25. It is not fair that I have to spend all my time working to pay these bills by myself. I have to work so much I hardley get to see them. It is not fair that I have to spend every dime I earn on their day to day care when he pays as he pleases and goes out drinking, partying, and wasting money. How am I ever going to get anywhere financially? I feel that I make good money, but I am never going to be able to afford a home for our family or take them to Disney world. My girls are the sweetest, cutest, blondest little twins. I don't understand why he doesn't want them to have the best in life. Is there a way that I can get an order that pays for half of their expenses instead of going by his income and modify it when the expenses increase? He may avoid paying by not owning property now, but I am sure he will own a home or have money in the future from not paying child support (his family has money too) and I would like to be reimbursed later rather than never.What is the name of your state?

He may not have a refund to attach if he is working under the table or as a contractor. Odds are that he would only have a refund if he claims the kids.

You can file your 2005 return and claim your children. The IRS will investigate and he will end up having to pay back the excess refund he received. That won't get you any of the arrearages, but it will definitely make him think twice about pulling that stunt again.

 

[Gracie3787]

FL Broward county
My ex is only supposed to pay $150.00 per week for our twins as per 2004 court order because he never reports his income and works under the table. He has no property to lien. CSE never knows where he is working or his addresses. I call them and tell them. By the time they figure everything out he quits his job and gets a new one so they can't take it out of his paycheks. He has been to court and he always gets out of paying or jail time. He owes us $7,000.00 plus. He doesn't pay anything for medical or daycare which is $1,500.00 per month. Also he claimed the kids in 2005 and received $3,000.00. The IRS did not intercept any of the refund. He is not entiled to claim them and I still haven't filed my 2005 return (I am getting a refund either way). He did not give any of the money to the kids either. I complained. They said he slipped through the cracks. This tax season I complained in advance and tried to find out what to do to make sure his refund was intercepted. They assured me it would be. Guess what, he slipped through the cracks again. I feel that CSE is not doing their job. Where can, I go to complain about them? I cannot afford an attourney. Right now he is working in Alaska. I have no idea if he is an employee or under the table or the name of his company? ?What can I do? Also he knows if he keeps his income low and/or under the table he doesn't have to pay. My expenses for the twins are staggering - $1,500 day care, diapers wipes $125, food $400, clothes $200, shoes $50.00, toys and entertainment $200, bath supplies $50, ballerina lessons $100, babysitting $200, medical bills $100, medical supplies $50, renting an apartment where they have their own room $1,300, furniture,car seats, strollers $750 per year, gas $200, Electric $250, transportation $450, insurance $240, life/disability insc $125, renters insc $25. It is not fair that I have to spend all my time working to pay these bills by myself. I have to work so much I hardley get to see them. It is not fair that I have to spend every dime I earn on their day to day care when he pays as he pleases and goes out drinking, partying, and wasting money. How am I ever going to get anywhere financially? I feel that I make good money, but I am never going to be able to afford a home for our family or take them to Disney world. My girls are the sweetest, cutest, blondest little twins. I don't understand why he doesn't want them to have the best in life. Is there a way that I can get an order that pays for half of their expenses instead of going by his income and modify it when the expenses increase? He may avoid paying by not owning property now, but I am sure he will own a home or have money in the future from not paying child support (his family has money too) and I would like to be reimbursed later rather than never.What is the name of your state?

The only thing you can do is to keep in contact with your caseworker at the CSE. As you said, if he doesn't own anything, there's nothing they can lien or seize. It's rotten that they haven't done an intercept of his tax refunds, have they actually put in an intercept notice to the IRS? This is the time of year that they normally do that, so make sure to contact them, and ask for a copy of the intercept notice. Unfortunately, if he's that determined to not pay, there's not too much that can be done. The one consolation yopu have though, is that the arrears will NEVER go away. You might be recieving the money when your kids are in thier 30's but sooner or later, he WILL be forced to pay.

In the meantime all you can do is budget as if you weren't getting CS at all. Please don't take this wrong, but the expenses you list are really way out of wack, for even your county. You'll need to learn how to cut expenses and possibly have to do without some of the nicer things in life for awhile. Check with your CSE caseworker, some counties have recently begun budgeting classes for parents. For the CPs the concentrate on budgeting as if no CS were expected, and for NCPs they concentrate on budgeting while paying CS.

 

[CJane]

My expenses for the twins are staggering -
$1,500 day care
diapers wipes $125
food $400, clothes $200
shoes $50.00
toys and entertainment $200
bath supplies $50
ballerina lessons $100
babysitting $200
medical bills $100
medical supplies $50
renting an apartment where they have their own room $1,300
furniture,car seats, strollers $750 per year
gas $200
Electric $250
transportation $450
insurance $240
life/disability insc $125
renters insc $25.

Are you KIDDING ME?

First of all, not all of those expenses are child-dependent. That means you'd have them anyway.

However, I find it IMPOSSIBLE to believe that for 2 three-year-olds (or nearly so) your expenses just for THEM exceed $1300/month. That's just what you listed for daycare/a portion of food/clothing/shoes/etc.

MY expenses for myself and 3 kids (ages 10, 7 and nearly 2) including rent, car payment... EVERYTHING including board for my horse... is only slightly more than $1800/month.

Are the children disabled? Is there some major expense that I'm missing here... something that REQUIRES $200/MONTH in toys and 'entertainment'?

 

[fairisfair]

Are you KIDDING ME?

First of all, not all of those expenses are child-dependent. That means you'd have them anyway.

However, I find it IMPOSSIBLE to believe that for 2 three-year-olds (or nearly so) your expenses just for THEM exceed $1300/month. That's just what you listed for daycare/a portion of food/clothing/shoes/etc.

MY expenses for myself and 3 kids (ages 10, 7 and nearly 2) including rent, car payment... EVERYTHING including board for my horse... is only slightly more than $1800/month.

Are the children disabled? Is there some major expense that I'm missing here... something that REQUIRES $200/MONTH in toys and 'entertainment'?

Well you can hardly expect them to sit around bored when they are not being ballerinas.

 

[fairisfair]

by the way OP, the IRS does NOT intercept tax refunds, the state does that.

You received good information when you were told to contact them regarding a tax intercept (CSE) and to do so NOW.

 

[CJane]

Well you can hardly expect them to sit around bored when they are not being ballerinas.

OMG, I KNOW!

Here's TMI for y'all... and I will allow that I live in a different state and perhaps our cost of living really IS that much different. But here ya go.

Rent for 2BR apt (900 sq ft) w/patio for dog. $510
Car payment for 'sensible 4 dr car' $260
Ins for said car $76
Fuel (I commute 50 miles each way every day) $200-$250
Electricity (w/the AC running while it's 90* outside) $100
Gas $35
Water is paid

Diapers for the 2 year old $20
Daycare for all three kids $216
Groceries (absolute MAX and this includes any fast food/pizza ordering/etc) $200
Board for the horse $100
Sax rental $28
Cell phone (no landline, and this is for 2 phones) $100
Entertainment +/- $100
Cable/internet $70

That's it.

I receive about $800/month in CS now... but only have been for about 10 months. Prior to that it was just lil ol me. I know for a fact I can get by w/$30 in groceries every week if I need to. And I can live without 'entertainment' or a phone or cable/internet or board for my horse.

 

[Silverplum]

Well you can hardly expect them to sit around bored when they are not being ballerinas.

Hold my hand, Fair, I'm positively frightened by OP!

 

[nextwife]

OMG, I KNOW!

Here's TMI for y'all... and I will allow that I live in a different state and perhaps our cost of living really IS that much different. But here ya go.

Rent for 2BR apt (900 sq ft) w/patio for dog. $510
Car payment for 'sensible 4 dr car' $260
Ins for said car $76
Fuel (I commute 50 miles each way every day) $200-$250
Electricity (w/the AC running while it's 90* outside) $100
Gas $35
Water is paid

Diapers for the 2 year old $20
Daycare for all three kids $216
Groceries (absolute MAX and this includes any fast food/pizza ordering/etc) $200
Board for the horse $100
Sax rental $28
Cell phone (no landline, and this is for 2 phones) $100
Entertainment +/- $100
Cable/internet $70

That's it.

I receive about $800/month in CS now... but only have been for about 10 months. Prior to that it was just lil ol me. I know for a fact I can get by w/$30 in groceries every week if I need to. And I can live without 'entertainment' or a phone or cable/internet or board for my horse.

AND, many of those costs are not child specific.


Rent for 2BR apt (900 sq ft) w/patio for dog. $510
Car payment for 'sensible 4 dr car' $260
Ins for said car $76
Fuel (I commute 50 miles each way every day) $200-$250
Electricity (w/the AC running while it's 90* outside) $100
Gas $35
Water is paid
Groceries (absolute MAX and this includes any fast food/pizza ordering/etc) $200
Board for the horse $100
Cell phone (no landline, and this is for 2 phones) $100
Entertainment +/- $100
Cable/internet $70


I took out the child specific costs. The rent, IF you had a smaller place, would not be THAT much less. Betcha a 1 BR in the same complex would be about $450. I pay about $1000 a month PITI for a 2400 sq foot stone ranch in a top area - which is STILL less than posters housing cost - and I was paying that without any kids. And my empty nester friends still have mortgage payments for two or three bedroom homes- so their housing expense is NOT specific to having kids living there. And all my empty nester friends still have a cable bill.

Electricity might be somewhat less, but would still be a cost. Same for gas. Auto insurance is not child specific. None of my childless friends/empty nester friends are without cars or cel phones. Nor have they ceased having life and disability expenses.

Obviously food and entertainment is proportionately more, but GEE!

 

[fairisfair]

wow, so kids are basically free now??? I am gonna get me a couple'a more. LOL

 

[CJane]

AND, many of those costs are not child specific.

I know. That was sort of my point.

I took out the child specific costs. The rent, IF you had a smaller place, would not be THAT much less. Betcha 1 BR in the same complex would be about $450.

$490, actually.

I pay about $1000 a month PITI and insurance for a 2400 sq foot stone ranch in a top area - which is STILL less than posters housing cost - and I was paying that without any kids. And all my empty nester friends still have a cable bill.

Yeah, D'man's house payment in a nice area for a 2000 sq ft house w/4 garages and 1/4 acre is only about $600/month.

Electricity might be somewhat less, but would still be a cost. Same for gas. Auto insurance is not child specific. None of my childless friends/empty nester friends are without cars or cel phones. Nor have they ceased having life and disability expenses.

Obviously food and entertainment is proportionately more, but GEE!

I just can't believe what she's claiming are expenses.

There are a couple of things that are child specific w/relation to the fuel - I drive about 32 of my 50 mile commute is delivering the kids to school since they go in Stupidhead's district and there's no housing up there so I live in the next town.

And I wouldn't have a car payment if I didn't have kids because I'd be more comfortable driving a banger... w/liability ins.

And honestly? Why are nearly 3 year olds still in diapers? That's why I asked about the disability. I'm missing something... I know I am.

I also know that my expenses are different on average than other moms o'3 because I only have the girls 60% of the time and therefore don't feed them every day. But I have to pay the sitter whether they're there or not and I pay all school lunch expenses and club fees as well.

I wouldn't need the sax rental or the ear plugs if I didn't have the kids though... my daughter is BAD at her instrument.

And board for the horse is a kid related expense. I had to have my horse put down 2 weeks ago.

 

[nextwife]

I know. That was sort of my point.



$490, actually.



Yeah, D'man's house payment in a nice area for a 2000 sq ft house w/4 garages and 1/4 acre is only about $600/month.



I just can't believe what she's claiming are expenses.

There are a couple of things that are child specific w/relation to the fuel - I drive about 32 of my 50 mile commute is delivering the kids to school since they go in Stupidhead's district and there's no housing up there so I live in the next town.

And I wouldn't have a car payment if I didn't have kids because I'd be more comfortable driving a banger... w/liability ins.

And honestly? Why are nearly 3 year olds still in diapers? That's why I asked about the disability. I'm missing something... I know I am.

I also know that my expenses are different on average than other moms o'3 because I only have the girls 60% of the time and therefore don't feed them every day. But I have to pay the sitter whether they're there or not and I pay all school lunch expenses and club fees as well.

I wouldn't need the sax rental or the ear plugs if I didn't have the kids though... my daughter is BAD at her instrument.

And board for the horse is a kid related expense. I had to have my horse put down 2 weeks ago.

Kiddo has clarinet lessons. I bought a great , older used wood clarinet on Craig's list for $100- no more rental.

Yeah, I was reinforcing your point that many of the listed expenses exist whether one has kids or not.

 

[fl-eagle]

Welcome to the Sunshine State where we pay the government to do nothing.

First of all, being my first post/reply, be patient with me. Here goes......
I have a similar situation, actually my wife does. Her "X" hasn't paid child support in over 5 1/2 years. It is now over $130,000.00. Oh yeah, he lives locally in an gated golf course community. After submitting her paperwork three times (they "oops" misplaced it) her case finally got entered into their system. This past September they went to court. To her disappointment, all that was done was to establish the arrears. They just added 20% to his current payment. If you add 20% to nothing, you still get nothing. He also works under the table, hid father pays most of his bills. He does own his home, which already has a lien against it. It won't help since it's homesteaded. They need to change that law to allow certain liens, like this one, to break through that protection.

Well, that afternoon she contacted our local State Senator's office. They were very interested in how this case has been handled. The next morning at 8am, we received a call from our local CSE office. It's funny how just a phone call changes things. They are now aware that they are being monitored. So far it hasn't changed much. She will have to wait until he receives two delinquency notices until they even begin to process the paperwork to take his license. I think that that's as far as they go in actually trying to force arrears to be paid. Very seldom to you hear of them using any of their other "enforcement tools" against the NCP.

We are currently trying to find out some sort of timeline as to what happens next, if anything. I don't understand why they can't use all of their resources at the same time to force the NCP to pay their arrears. Maybe it will put too much of a burden on the NCP, yeah right. Or maybe it would mean that the CSE office would have to actually do some WORK!

Our next step will be contacting the local television station's investigative reporter. They just love to get into the government's face about things like this.

Well, I hope this helps ... later!

 

[CJane]

Kiddo has clarinet lessons. I bought a great , older used wood clarinet on Craig's list for $100- no more rental.

Yeah, I was reinforcing your point that many of the listed expenses exist whether one has kids or not.

Apparently our school is quite picky and will only 'allow' certain brands of instrument to be played for first year band.

I found a great sax on Ebay and am seriously considering it for XMas if the band teacher approves it. I'd love to not pay rental... though that reminds me that we need reeds.

OP listed over $5000 in MONTHLY expenses. I honestly cannot fathom that.

 

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

Florida is expensive as all heck!

She probably has a decent apartment, but that is pretty much the going rate for a 3-bedroom in a non-high crime area in Broward county. I'm two counties up and run about $900 plus utilities for a 2-bed-bath place here.

Gas is abou 3.25 per gallon.

A gallon of milk is $4.39. My food bill nearly doubled when I moved here from Michigan and I am queen of cheap!

Now, personally, I would cut the ballerina and toys out of my budget!

On the positive side, she doesn't have to deal with the every other weekend swaps, etc.