SMALL SUCCESS!
Well, after my third attempt at pettitioning the FOC for a reduction in child support they finally lowered it. My previous support amount was based on imputed income from a job I no longer had. I was (and still am). The enforced amount annually was about 70% of what I was making being self employed working odd jobs. It didn't leave enough for me to survive. As I fell behind the Jail, suspension of drivers license, etc. threats were the norm.
Now (finally) the FOC has relaxed their guidelines a bit and even admitted that they used to be pretty liberal in their imputed income calculations. It sounds like there are a lot of payors pettitioning for lowered support payments as unemployment continues to skyrocket.
Maybe someday the Federal system that rewards the FOC for enforcing high child support can be fixed and they will actually (really) decide custody of the children based on what is best for the children. Currently the more custody time they give the lower income parent the more (higher) child support they can enforce on the other parent. This hurts the kids who want to see more of their other parent and financially kills the paying parent just so the state and FOC can get more revenue.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Friday, November 7, 2008
DODGED THE BULLET (for now).
Well, I was able to beg, borrow, steal enough cash to get the arrears below the magic $2000 mark and got the show cause (contempt) hearing dismissed (rescheduled) for another month. Once you are behind and in the system, They got ya! Now they enjoy having the axe hanging over my head each month or I'll be dragged in for contempt. Fines? Jail? Who knows.
Am I really in contempt of court because I don't make enough money to keep the court and my ex happy? Look at the economy today. Look at Michigan. Thousands at a time are losing their jobs. Tens and tens of thousands have newly found themselves without a job this year alone in Michigan with lots more to lose theirs soon, and no end in sight. Well the court ordered child support I'm ordered to pay has been a little more than I have been able to earn this year. Does that make me in contempt? I think not. I have sent just shy of ten thousand dollars cash to my ex this year without being employed from working my butt off at odd jobs. I think that is astounding, not contempt. Yet the threat of jail hovers over me each and every month. What a system.
Well, I was able to beg, borrow, steal enough cash to get the arrears below the magic $2000 mark and got the show cause (contempt) hearing dismissed (rescheduled) for another month. Once you are behind and in the system, They got ya! Now they enjoy having the axe hanging over my head each month or I'll be dragged in for contempt. Fines? Jail? Who knows.
Am I really in contempt of court because I don't make enough money to keep the court and my ex happy? Look at the economy today. Look at Michigan. Thousands at a time are losing their jobs. Tens and tens of thousands have newly found themselves without a job this year alone in Michigan with lots more to lose theirs soon, and no end in sight. Well the court ordered child support I'm ordered to pay has been a little more than I have been able to earn this year. Does that make me in contempt? I think not. I have sent just shy of ten thousand dollars cash to my ex this year without being employed from working my butt off at odd jobs. I think that is astounding, not contempt. Yet the threat of jail hovers over me each and every month. What a system.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Do you swear to tell the truth?
Well here goes nothing. In a week I'll finally be in court for a show cause hearing. They want to find me "In contempt of Court". The friend of the court canceled the last two hearings and rescheduled them because I was able to get my arrears below $2000, their magic number. These are very tough times in this country and even worse in SE Michigan. I'm still out of work (over a year) but have managed to pay almost $9,000 in child support to my ex for our children. They have holes in their shoes, she borrows cat food from the neighbors, a friend bought one of the kids a planner for school..etc. Where has the money I sent to take care of my children gone? Sorry, I digress. So.. the friend of the court is going to rake me over the coals, let me know that I'm a deadbeat, and find me in contempt of court because I have not paid all the money the court has ordered.
Am I in contempt? I don't think so. I'm doing everything I can to send her every dime I can. I do without (without trash service, heat, thermostat set at 58 unless children come over, food from the local food bank, etc.) so as to not waste any money. I have sent almost $9,000 from working my butt off at odd jobs.
How can I be in contempt if I am doing all I can (and then some) to obey the order?
Wait until they fine me for contempt. That will be MORE money NOT going to my children. The court system spends it about as well as my ex does.
I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck.
Well here goes nothing. In a week I'll finally be in court for a show cause hearing. They want to find me "In contempt of Court". The friend of the court canceled the last two hearings and rescheduled them because I was able to get my arrears below $2000, their magic number. These are very tough times in this country and even worse in SE Michigan. I'm still out of work (over a year) but have managed to pay almost $9,000 in child support to my ex for our children. They have holes in their shoes, she borrows cat food from the neighbors, a friend bought one of the kids a planner for school..etc. Where has the money I sent to take care of my children gone? Sorry, I digress. So.. the friend of the court is going to rake me over the coals, let me know that I'm a deadbeat, and find me in contempt of court because I have not paid all the money the court has ordered.
Am I in contempt? I don't think so. I'm doing everything I can to send her every dime I can. I do without (without trash service, heat, thermostat set at 58 unless children come over, food from the local food bank, etc.) so as to not waste any money. I have sent almost $9,000 from working my butt off at odd jobs.
How can I be in contempt if I am doing all I can (and then some) to obey the order?
Wait until they fine me for contempt. That will be MORE money NOT going to my children. The court system spends it about as well as my ex does.
I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Get a Job ?
My ex harassed me on the phone about being unemployed and said that I could get a job if I wanted to. Don't forget this is south east Michigan. She said go to McDonald's and work. Lets do a little math and see how well that works out shall we?
Lets get a starting wage of $8.50/hr. At 40 hours a week that is $340 per week. Lets go skimpy on state/federal/and social security tax and only take 20% total. $340 now drops to $272. Lets also go conservative and say that she will only be awarded 50% for our 5 young children. The thought of income withholding is exciting isn't it? $272 per week for me now drops to $136 per week. Ooooh wait, I need to pay a babysitter for 40 hours a week for five children. Can I possibly find someone who would do it for only $5 per hour? Lets assume there is a blessed soul out there that will do that. $5 per hour at 40 hours is only $200 per week but that is $64 more dollars than I took home.
Sooo.. how should I spend this NEGATIVE $64 a week I'm earning. I'll need gas at $4.25 a gallon to drive to work, Shall I pay my modest rent so I can keep a roof over my head? I hear they have a meal discount program at work so that won't cost much. Don't forget the big one mister - Pay that child support on time! Don't worry about lights or heat in the home or feeding the children, just pay that support on time! Don't buy medicine, have trash removal, lights, heat, a phone, rent, car insurance, money for gas, food, etc. Those are all luxuries you can have after the child support is paid on time.
Eureka! I can ask to work double shifts and work 80 hours per week and double my income! Uhh, I mean losses. Seriously, if I lose $128 per week, the mom will get more and I'll never see or get to raise my children. Sign me up.
By the way, working those 80 hours per week still would not provide as much money as the system wants me to pay in child support so I would still be a bad guy in the eyes of my children's mom and the court system. Sigh.
I hope this doesn't kill me. When I die the mom will receive zero support and my children lose their dad. What do you think? Should I take the job or not?
My ex harassed me on the phone about being unemployed and said that I could get a job if I wanted to. Don't forget this is south east Michigan. She said go to McDonald's and work. Lets do a little math and see how well that works out shall we?
Lets get a starting wage of $8.50/hr. At 40 hours a week that is $340 per week. Lets go skimpy on state/federal/and social security tax and only take 20% total. $340 now drops to $272. Lets also go conservative and say that she will only be awarded 50% for our 5 young children. The thought of income withholding is exciting isn't it? $272 per week for me now drops to $136 per week. Ooooh wait, I need to pay a babysitter for 40 hours a week for five children. Can I possibly find someone who would do it for only $5 per hour? Lets assume there is a blessed soul out there that will do that. $5 per hour at 40 hours is only $200 per week but that is $64 more dollars than I took home.
Sooo.. how should I spend this NEGATIVE $64 a week I'm earning. I'll need gas at $4.25 a gallon to drive to work, Shall I pay my modest rent so I can keep a roof over my head? I hear they have a meal discount program at work so that won't cost much. Don't forget the big one mister - Pay that child support on time! Don't worry about lights or heat in the home or feeding the children, just pay that support on time! Don't buy medicine, have trash removal, lights, heat, a phone, rent, car insurance, money for gas, food, etc. Those are all luxuries you can have after the child support is paid on time.
Eureka! I can ask to work double shifts and work 80 hours per week and double my income! Uhh, I mean losses. Seriously, if I lose $128 per week, the mom will get more and I'll never see or get to raise my children. Sign me up.
By the way, working those 80 hours per week still would not provide as much money as the system wants me to pay in child support so I would still be a bad guy in the eyes of my children's mom and the court system. Sigh.
I hope this doesn't kill me. When I die the mom will receive zero support and my children lose their dad. What do you think? Should I take the job or not?
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Hear Ye, Hear Ye..DEADBEAT DADS>>>
Boy did I get some exciting mail today from my friendly friend of the court. My ex is dragging me into court for being a whopping $2000 dollars behind on my child support. The FOC doesn't care in the slightest that I have been unemployed for over a year (this is Michigan). I have worked my fingers to the bone doing odd jobs and paid faithfully, every month, all that I could for the last year but have steadily fallen behind a little at a time being unemployed. I asked for a temporary drop in payment amount until I could get work a while back and got laughed out of the friend of the court building. They also don't seem to care at all if my children's mom has gotten raises and is taking a lot of overtime at work to make even a larger disproportionate amount of money than I am at the current time. Mind you she has not lost any of her monthly "gifts" from the state (you hard working tax payers) like food, tuition, child care, health care, etc.
Speaking of health care, did you know that part of the child support formula includes health care even if the mom and children have free health care from the state? That's right, I pay her for health care every month even though she gets it for free already. But I digress.
Tucked in with this exciting letter I got today as well was a nice "hunters orange" note informing me that I wouldn't be able to obtain a hunting or fishing license and that the DNR was informed of what a bad guy I am. Now I can't take my kids hunting or fishing? Wow.
I can't wait for this fun day in court that I have to look forward to. They will treat me like crap, insult me, take my money, and try to get blood from a turnip. I wonder if they will threaten to put me in jail. I can earn a lot of money and take care of my children from there I'll bet. All you hard working tax payers would be happy to support my little vacation from society wouldn't you?
Check out this link, from the State of Michigan, as to how much power the FOC has in their efforts to enforce child support.. http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5453_5528_29251---,00.html . They automatically report to the credit agencies if I fall behind !!(??). Now my credit is going downhill too. Now since our insurance companies can raise rates based on credit my insurance rates can rise costing more money realizing even less available money to take care of my children. Is the entire system a downward spiral or what? The info on that link will shock and scare you. Nothing like big brother having too much power and screwing up more than ever. Take the money I am able to afford to provide for my children and absorb it into attorney fees, higher insurance premiums, more paperwork and court fees, etc. Send as much of my money as possible into the system and don't let it go towards helping support my children. Hmmm.
Boy did I get some exciting mail today from my friendly friend of the court. My ex is dragging me into court for being a whopping $2000 dollars behind on my child support. The FOC doesn't care in the slightest that I have been unemployed for over a year (this is Michigan). I have worked my fingers to the bone doing odd jobs and paid faithfully, every month, all that I could for the last year but have steadily fallen behind a little at a time being unemployed. I asked for a temporary drop in payment amount until I could get work a while back and got laughed out of the friend of the court building. They also don't seem to care at all if my children's mom has gotten raises and is taking a lot of overtime at work to make even a larger disproportionate amount of money than I am at the current time. Mind you she has not lost any of her monthly "gifts" from the state (you hard working tax payers) like food, tuition, child care, health care, etc.
Speaking of health care, did you know that part of the child support formula includes health care even if the mom and children have free health care from the state? That's right, I pay her for health care every month even though she gets it for free already. But I digress.
Tucked in with this exciting letter I got today as well was a nice "hunters orange" note informing me that I wouldn't be able to obtain a hunting or fishing license and that the DNR was informed of what a bad guy I am. Now I can't take my kids hunting or fishing? Wow.
I can't wait for this fun day in court that I have to look forward to. They will treat me like crap, insult me, take my money, and try to get blood from a turnip. I wonder if they will threaten to put me in jail. I can earn a lot of money and take care of my children from there I'll bet. All you hard working tax payers would be happy to support my little vacation from society wouldn't you?
Check out this link, from the State of Michigan, as to how much power the FOC has in their efforts to enforce child support.. http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5453_5528_29251---,00.html . They automatically report to the credit agencies if I fall behind !!(??). Now my credit is going downhill too. Now since our insurance companies can raise rates based on credit my insurance rates can rise costing more money realizing even less available money to take care of my children. Is the entire system a downward spiral or what? The info on that link will shock and scare you. Nothing like big brother having too much power and screwing up more than ever. Take the money I am able to afford to provide for my children and absorb it into attorney fees, higher insurance premiums, more paperwork and court fees, etc. Send as much of my money as possible into the system and don't let it go towards helping support my children. Hmmm.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Another Powerful must read..
The list of people writing about the injustices to children post-divorce is growing. That is a good thing! The children have been abused for far too long by the institutions who stand to gain by the current laws and something must be done. Big changes need to be made to save our children, our families, and our country. Read this moving enrty here..
http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/diarypage.php?did=7378
I know it is hard to change current laws, especially if the ones making the laws will lose revenue. Is it possible that our country can see the future, see the gains made with the needed changes? The money being spent in the courtrooms, in the "friend of the court" (notice it isn't friend of the family or friend of the children), spent in jails, welfare, etc would be more than made up if we were a society where children had TWO parents in their life. Think about how much less our government would spend on correctional facilities, public handouts, etc. if divorce wasn't so easy, if the children didn't automatically go to the mom, if the dads were not automatically made out to be the bad guy in a divorce, if more children had their dad as a bigger part of their lives.
The list of people writing about the injustices to children post-divorce is growing. That is a good thing! The children have been abused for far too long by the institutions who stand to gain by the current laws and something must be done. Big changes need to be made to save our children, our families, and our country. Read this moving enrty here..
http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/diarypage.php?did=7378
I know it is hard to change current laws, especially if the ones making the laws will lose revenue. Is it possible that our country can see the future, see the gains made with the needed changes? The money being spent in the courtrooms, in the "friend of the court" (notice it isn't friend of the family or friend of the children), spent in jails, welfare, etc would be more than made up if we were a society where children had TWO parents in their life. Think about how much less our government would spend on correctional facilities, public handouts, etc. if divorce wasn't so easy, if the children didn't automatically go to the mom, if the dads were not automatically made out to be the bad guy in a divorce, if more children had their dad as a bigger part of their lives.
Another Poll (shared parenting)
We can do better than 88%. Please hit the link below and put in a vote for the kids!
Here is the link to the Detroit News poll asking if parenting time should be 50/50 post-divorce.. http://info.detnews.com/redesign/forums/feedback/lettersindex.cfm?topic=Parenting .
We can do better than 88%. Please hit the link below and put in a vote for the kids!
Here is the link to the Detroit News poll asking if parenting time should be 50/50 post-divorce.. http://info.detnews.com/redesign/forums/feedback/lettersindex.cfm?topic=Parenting .
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