True Story

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Child Support Horror Story From Missouri

This is a true story. In 2003 I was arrested on the job for non payment of child support and it took me one year, $12,000.00 a bondsman and a good lawyer to get me out of it, so to speak. I’m still fighting to resolve the issue. Let me enlighten you….

In 1987 I divorced my husband and was granted full custody of our 2 children with he being ordered to pay child support in the amount of $200 a month (this was 1987..but still a paltry sum anyway). From 1987 to 1989 I was on WIC, food stamps and had state supplemented healthcare for my children. I also had a caseworker who I was in contact with during this period. In the ongoing process my ex-husband had the occasion to meet with her on what I presumed to be a case-related need. Well, my caseworker and he became more that just acquaintances, and got friendly and married! I was assigned a different worker when this happened. In 1990 I decided to move to the Kansas City metro area for a job opportunity but did not want to move the kids away from the school district and the only environment they had ever known. So my ex, his wife and myself went to a judge in Henry county and got a modification on the child custody and support issues. We agreed to shared custody with the kids living with him in Benton county and releasing all parties from obligation of child support. i.e.: We agreed that neither of us would ask for support. Now the period of 1993 to 2003 was filled with visits with all parties. Ex in-laws visiting ex-husband and vice versa. I enjoyed watching the kids grow and had an active part in their upbringing. There were absolutely no mention ever of child support brought up. I knew that the ex and his wife were on the state welfare roles themselves during this period. They had 5 children between them. What I did find peculiar was that they could afford long expensive vacations for all of them, buy new vehicles every year or so, buy and sell cattle, have a cash-only firewood business AND build a brand new home! I never did so well while I was in the system.

For whatever reason, in 2003 I was on the job when my supervisor came to me and asked me to go with her to the office. There was a uniformed officer waiting for me and led me out in handcuffs. I was read the warrant at the jail…Non-payment of child support in the excess of $5000.00. Cash only bond in the amount of $5000.00. So there I was not only in jail, but with a charge that was utterly ridiculous. I wanted clarification. Were they sure it was me they wanted? There had never been any mention of this. None. Nada. Not even over the Christmas vacation that I had just seen the ex. Not a freakin’ whisper. After my husband borrowed from family and took out a loan at our credit union I was released from jail. The nightmare was only beginning. Since the ex lived in Warsaw, I had to travel every court date 2 hours from where I live. My job wouldn’t put up with all the missed time due to court dates and meetings with lawyers etc., they let me go. I loved this job. Then when you factor in that my husband took off from his job all those court dates, we lost a lot of money that summer. It seems that in 1999, nine years after signing the modification of child support they went to the division of family support services and got their own judgment against me. So, for those 4+ years, child support payments were paid to them by the state and without notice to me. All these years, shuttling back and forth for visits and such not one word was said. I knew they were getting support from the state as I mentioned, I just didn’t know that all that time I was getting billed WITH interest no less, for their lifestyle. I was never served papers, I was never garnished on my job.

NOTHING until the day I was arrested. My case went to the Supreme court of Missouri in December of 2003 and the supreme’s ruled in my favor. The state did not have the right to over rule the judge’s modification in the original order filed in 1990. I was ecstatic! You would think that this would have been the end of the matter. Not so. I ran our credit report in August 2004 and found the state had placed a $15,000.00 judgment against me. I also found out during all of this that he and his wife, my ex-caseworker had been collecting food stamps and continued Medicaid benefits for my two kids after they had moved out of the house. They were and still are bilking the state out of money. I cannot even begin to tell you the amount of time and effort I have taken to square this thing away. I want my money back, I want them made to pay what they have stolen back and I want them to go to jail. She should be penalized the most because of her background in social services. She knew the in’s and out’s and how to get away with this whole scheme. I want my credit restored. I have called, e-mailed, written letters to every available political figure.

Shame on you Claire McCaskill, auditor of our fine state for not caring enough to look into this. Shame on you all. I have heard the battle cry to cut the budget, eliminate excess spending and the spawn of Roy Blunt say that he wants to find those people that are on the systems rolls and who hide assets. I have handed you their names. I have done the investigating. I have paid the price. I have been a lifelong Democrat, have voted EVERY issue, I have served my community and others by being a member of a domestic Peace Corps. I have abided by my commitment to be a responsible citizen. Where is YOUR commitment to looking out for justice? Equality? Shame on all of you for being spineless, incompetent public servants. And shame on me for believing that any of you could right the wrongs and put your words and promises into action.

Posts Tagged ‘True Story’

Child Support Horror Story From Missouri

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