Unemployment, Disability and Child Support

[BL]

I received a notice "Petition and Order for Determination of Ongoing Support", with a date to come to court. The FOC date is only 12 days after I received the notice.

For once in a very long time, I've made plans with my son for his Easter break. We have reservations booked, etc. The two things conflict with one another.

Is 12 days enough notice, legally speaking?

I called FOC and have received different opinions. First lady said if I bring the SS papers in ahead of time, it should be okay. That's really all they want to see. Second lady asked a higher up (who the meeting is in front of) and she said we could move it back a week if Dad agrees. Dad says he can't do that . Third lady said to bring the paperwork in ahead of time and go on vacation - the meeting is just a formality.

It does say at the bottom of the petition if either party fails to appear, an order may be entered adverse to their position.

Now I'm wondering if this meeting is really a formality or if it'd be the time for Dad to bring up the previously mentioned things in the beginning of this thread and if I could wind up SOL if I'm not there. Of course if we have to miss our trip, it's our son who also winds up SOL - although I realize that is legally neither here nor there it sure does suck!

Any feedback on to go or not or what happens at such a meeting? Is it a formality or could Dad raise previous concerns and I find myself with a ruling adverse to my position? Is the 12 days adequate notice?

Thanks.

Do not go by what FOC tells you .

Appear in person or by phone if allowed by the court in advance , unless you want the chips to fall where they may.

 

[kaizen]

Looks like this is gonna fall into place the way it should.

I went in and talked with Judicial Services Attorney. He told me what has been said on this thread - that the outcome is already written. This is just a formality. *Unless, he said, I was asking for more than the SSD amount - which I am not. I told him what I feared Dad was going to say (as I posted originally) and he assured me that was a different court matter in a different courtroom. If Dad wanted that situation addressed, next week is not the forum in which to do that anyhow. Next week is not in a court room at all. It's at a counter standing in front of a Judicial Services Officer. I asked if in the worst case scenario something crazy happened and a ruling was made that I did not like, did I have other recourse. He said that I can file an objection and take it front of the judge.

He'll copied my SS paperwork and is leaving a note on the Officer's chair to call me. He said she is new, and that may have factored into the previous info I was given. He'll also ask her about my calling in - just to cover my butt.

So with 99% certainty (sans any far out information received Monday), we are Chicago bound. So happy for my son (and I).

Thanks for the dialog. I appreciate it.