Interstate Child Support

[TickledPink]

My ex is moving to VA. I'm in IN. He's been "playing" with the child support a little over a year. In January I tired of the game of only paying it when it was convenient and started garnishment proceedings. He was fired the end of February (first time he was ever fired from a job btw)
but I did manage to get four weeks worth of child support.
I opted to not go to a show cause hearing, which was my mistake. Since he paid the child support well up until last May, I had high hopes that he would start paying it again when he got another job. I started the garnishment again after he had been on the job a month with no support paid. He did pay one week's worth, I believe after he learned of the garnishment. Now he is at guard camp for 2 weeks and will bring home a large check from that. He is talking about moving to VA. How will I collect child support from this distance? Will he be able to dodge it completely now? What about visitation to VA for our son? I already asked the question about who would pay for transportation, but, do I have to send my 12 1/2 year old son down there at all? Can I require him to come up here to visit with him in this state?
Also, I asked CSE if they could garnish his guard check monthly and they said that it wouldn't be worth it for this small amount. Is there any way they can garnish the large check he will be getting the end of next week?

Thank you.

 

[TickledPink]

Let me Clarify

When I said I didn't go to the show cause hearing, I should have said that I opted to not have a show cause hearing at all. I called it off. I know...stupid me.

 

[morning_angel]

Child support orders are uniformly enforcable across state lines. Have yours sent to VA once he is living there. They will enforce. I don't know about his "guard" check, it is federally issued, right? Have you contacted the Child support office about it being garnished? ASAP? Why wouldn't it be "worth it" for a small amount monthly? Any support is better than no support... In PA if a parent who has a child support obligation goes on unemployment, the computer system automatically garnishes his unemployment check for the weekly amount of the child support. (Which really sucks if you're only claiming a partial week, because then the employer takes the support out of the paycheck and the unemployment takes it out of your UE check. You get a double whammy and the EX gets a nice little bonus!) I don't know if other states garnish "government checks" but it would be worthwhile checking into.

If he moves to VA, he will likely be responsible for costs of transportation, since he is the <i>cause</i> of the increased costs of transportation. If it's not in your order, you may need to file with the court to get it in your order. You don't really have much choice as to the visitation. He has a right to see his son according to the visitation schedule set up by the court. Inteference on your part could prove detrimental to your custody of the child.

Good Luck!

 

[TickledPink]

Since he had an unusual work schedule when we divorced, the divorce decree states that he can see his son any time it is convenient with a three day notice. It says for holidays that we will work it out between us.
I did ask the support office about garnishing his government wages, but, I'll call today and ask about his two weeks guard check. I think I'm probably too late though for this one. He finishes next weekend. It's a nice thought to think of him putting his hand out for his big check and receive a piece of paper telling him that the money is going to his son for child support.
I would and have never tried to keep him from seeing his son. However, I have a trust problem with him. I'll just have to play that by ear.
Thank you for your reply.