Child support questions... I'm clueless

[auralia]

First off this isn't for me. I help my 19 year old neighbor a lot since her mom died. She lives in her dads house (he lives with his girlfriend) rent free and he also pays utilities. Her boyfriend (baby daddy) left her recently and now she needs to go for child support. I have no idea how she is supposed to do this? Does she need a lawyer? She is food stamp eligible and the baby is on Medicaid (well he is 15 months actually). She doesn't work, let's not get into this she said she won't send the baby to daycare I can't make her. I can help her with getting her to court dates for child support etc. but I don't even know where to start. She lives in Georgia and daddy is from South Carolina (we are right on the state line). He has a pretty decent job making 20 or so an hour after taxes (since he doesn't even have a high school diploma I would call it very good pay.) What does she have to do? Do you file online, go to the court house? Make an appointment? He has her car right now (that actually belonged to her deceased mom) so she can't get anywhere. Her dad pays the insurance on it. The boy will hopefully return it within the week or it becomes a theft issue I imagine. She doesn't want to press any charges against him because then he would lose the job and she wouldn't have any support from him. Thanks for any info.

 

[tomthebarncat]

I am not a lawyer but a former social worker, first is his name on the birth certificate? if not she has to prove paternity and get him to take a DNA test and pay for it. If his name in on the birth certificate, she should call social services and ask them, child support is court ordered. She will need to go to court to do this. Also, since he lives and works in another state she will need to go through that state to get the money. It is complicated but can be done, at will take at least 6 months to a year. If she gets it, he will be responsible for back child support. If the guy is a loser, he very well might disappear or quit his job so he doesn't have to pay. Social services is the first step!! As for the car, I would tell dad since he is responsible for it if anything happens to it. This sounds like a mess!! Babies having babies is always a disaster!

 

[auralia]

He is on the birth certificate. They had a verbal agreement but that lasted all of a week and a half before he reneged on it. She is applying for food stamps because he stopped helping her. She qualified previously so I imagine she would again.

 

[auralia]

So does she go to georgia social services or South Carolina?

 

[supersnoop]

He is on the birth certificate. They had a verbal agreement but that lasted all of a week and a half before he reneged on it. She is applying for food stamps because he stopped helping her. She qualified previously so I imagine she would again.

When she applies for food stamps, they'll make her go through the process to get child support. At least in most states, that's the law. You can't get state/welfare support without first pursuing the father for support. They should help with the process.

 

[RitaE]

So does she go to georgia social services or South Carolina?

According to this Georgia Government site, if she knows his address she should begin the process listed on the website. As mentioned, enforcing a child support order on a non-resident is difficult so she needs to get started and be patient and persistent.

http://dcss.dhs.georgia.gov/child-support-process

There is also a section on that website that gives a bit of information regarding Interstate Cases.

http://dcss.dhs.georgia.gov/intergovernmental-cases

In addition to the above link, I would suggest you contact a local United Way or other charitable organization in your area who can help her find legal aid assistance.

 

[auralia]

According to this Georgia Government site, if she knows his address she should begin the process listed on the website. As mentioned, enforcing a child support order on a non-resident is difficult so she needs to get started and be patient and persistent. http://dcss.dhs.georgia.gov/child-support-process There is also a section on that website that gives a bit of information regarding Interstate Cases. http://dcss.dhs.georgia.gov/intergovernmental-cases In addition to the above link, I would suggest you contact a local United Way or other charitable organization in your area who can help her find legal aid assistance.

gave her these links tbks

 

[frenzy70]

If she's receiving food stamps they'll help her get child support. Be aware that they'll also take a portion if it to help pay back the amount they give her. In illinois my ex was ordered to pay $500 a month and they helped recover it, but since we had food stamps and medical card (disabled child and one with cancer at the time) we only received $50 a month . This is the max anyone was able to recieve and still get services. It worked out well for us because cancer is expensive.

 

[Colleen27]

Her worker will help her, or she can go to the county in which she and the child live to file herself. If he's on the birth certificate the process should be fairly straightforward and she shouldn't need legal representation.

 

[barkley]

If she's receiving food stamps they'll help her get child support. Be aware that they'll also take a portion if it to help pay back the amount they give her. In illinois my ex was ordered to pay $500 a month and they helped recover it, but since we had food stamps and medical card (disabled child and one with cancer at the time) we only received $50 a month . This is the max anyone was able to recieve and still get services. It worked out well for us because cancer is expensive.

when I worked for social services that $50 was called a 'child support disregard'. no matter how little the absent parent paid-that amount up to the first $50 always went to the parent with the kiddo.

Georgia state social services is her best first contact. in most states applying for any type of financial assistance is conditional upon pursuing any other forms of income potentially available which includes child support. every state (and in some states it differs county to county) differs on how they operate, but for the most part an application triggers a referral to child support enforcement and collections (in my old county that was a division of the district attorney's office), and that division handles everything-including paternity establishment (all at no cost to the aid recipient). those divisions look to anything a child might be eligible to in a support order-including health insurance which some absent parents don't think/want to add their kids to.

suggest she call social services before applying on line-she/baby may be eligible to more programs than just food stamps and Medicaid that could help her out-there's WIC and straight forward cash assistance to start with, as well as education and training programs that she might benefit from down the line (in many states a person receiving state assistance can get full waivers from paying for post high school classes-so even if it's parenting classes at the local community college it can be beneficial).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

.......He has her car right now (that actually belonged to her diseased mom) so she can't get anywhere. Her dad pays the insurance on it. The boy will hopefully return it within the week or it becomes a theft issue I imagine. She doesn't want to press any charges against him because then he would lose the job and she wouldn't have any support from him. Thanks for any info.

I think you mean deceased. You have to love autocorrect!

 

[NinaBella]

Because

 

[MAD4EEYORE]

Just because his name is on the birth certificate doesn't mean anything. She will need to have the child legitimized with the court. If he denies the child is his a paternity test will be done. If the child is his he will pay the cost of the test. If it's not she will need to pay for the test. Let's hope he's a stand up guy so she doesn't have to go through this.

To get child support after the legitimation is done she can go through the Georgia Department of Child Services. I'm not sure if they will handle the legitimation or not but I would contact them. They will open a case for her I believe the fee is 25.00 but with her on assistance they may wave that fee.

If you have any other questions please message me. I have first hand experience with this situation.

 

[lauradis]

Just because his name is on the birth certificate doesn't mean anything. She will need to have the child legitimized with the court. If he denies the child is his a paternity test will be done. If the child is his he will pay the cost of the test. If it's not she will need to pay for the test. Let's hope he's a stand up guy so she doesn't have to go through this.

To get child support after the legitimation is done she can go through the Georgia Department of Child Services. I'm not sure if they will handle the legitimation or not but I would contact them. They will open a case for her I believe the fee is 25.00 but with her on assistance they may wave that fee.

If you have any other questions please message me. I have first hand experience with this situation.

does the Child services department request an order to garnish his state and federal tax returns????? or just his paycheck??

Ohio does these things if it is requested.

 

[MAD4EEYORE]

does the Child services department request an order to garnish his state and federal tax returns????? or just his paycheck?? Ohio does these things if it is requested.

They will garnish his wages and tax returns but an order needs to be in place first. Garnishing his tax return is a last resort for them. They suspend the drivers license first.

 

[auralia]

Thanks for all the info. I don't think he will say he's not the father. He knows he is. It isn't a grey area where there was more than one possible father.

I hope she pursues it and he doesn't talk her out of going to the courts again. He has stopped her several times by broken promises and blatant lies. It would be better for everyone if what was expected were written out and decided fairly by a neutral party. But it's her choice. I just try to help when she asks.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Dept of welfare will assist her, but they will apply for child support to offset the cost. If she she is working, she can go to the courthouse, Domestic Relations, and they will prepare the order. She does not need any attorney and why pay for one. There is a chart for his earning they will get several back records from the employer and use a chart to match with her wages if she has any and place an order.


Which ever way she goes, she should never accept an alternate one from the father for any reason. No matter how he wants to modify it, the order remains to protect her.
Also, do it ASAP

 

[disneyjunkie]

This is sick. This kid is begging for government handouts and dad will be paying CS soon. Mom gets to sit on her butt and collect while dad and the tax payers support her child.

Hopefully the father has people in his camp offering him advice. If he were my son, I'd push him to go to court for 50/50 custody and request that CS not be paid. (If you're in a state that doesn't require CS when custody is 50/50).

 

[chevblazer02]

This is sick. This kid is begging for government handouts and dad will be paying CS soon. Mom gets to sit on her butt and collect while dad and the tax payers support her child..

So true, I may be jaded since I am going thru paying CS. Best advice would be to tell her to go get a job and grow up!!! No need to get hand outs from tax payer dollars when jobs are out there. Even if its crappy paying at least she would then be trying to take the burden off tax payers.... While doing this give her the advice on getting what her child deserves from the father.... I understand not wanting to send the child to childcare but that is part of life now being a single parent....I wish I could sit around and do nothing with my life to just support my children....btw she would file for everything where she and the child reside....

I have no problem with supporting my child, its just the process and how much of the $$$ unfortuntely doesn't end up going to my child....

 

[kymom99]

This greatly offends me. So let's say she gets a "crappy" job and pays a daycare. She will still not have enough money to support a child at the age of 19 without help from the father. Far too many young fathers turn their backs on their children. It's just a sad fact. Don't judge until you or someone you love has been there.