How do we handle child support payments while my husband's in school?

Question

My husband is an electrician in Panama City, FL who lost his job due to no new houses being built. The work slowed before summer and then just stopped. He has been waiting for it to start back up again but too much time passed and he decided to go back to school after 20 years of being a electrician. He just started going back to school to get his degree and we receive a child support letter saying they are going to suspend his license if he doesn't pay an ungodly amount. (We are barely staying afloat as it is with both of us in school now per the lack of jobs in the area for the both of us.) The mother has custody but treats the child like c**p and he stays with my husband's mother more often than not. Stays with her the entire summer while we are still paying child support to the awful mother. The mother works at Nextel and has a steady secure income where my husband does not. Can he get unemployment while in school to pay for his child support? We are both living off financial aid so there isn't anything left of that to pay so something has to happen. I love my husband but I am sick and tired of his previous life bobbing up to destroy the responsible one I have created for myself. I don't want his past to ruin my life. Please tell me how I can help in this situation without divorcing him because of his past.

Answer 1

First, you must obtain an attorney and go back to court. If what you say here is true, then the father can obtain custody of the kids. He will also be able to collect child support from their mother.

If he doesn't get custody, then he will get the monthly amount lowered based on his current financial situation. Every time there is a change up or down in finances, the child's custodian (the mother) or the provider (the father) can request the court to amend the amount of support.

In the meantime, he has the court ordered support payments to make and must do whatever it takes to make them.

Answer 2

it is your choice to go to school instead of work - school is not a right everyone has.  you should consider hubby's child support obligations before deciding that you can live off of financial aid.  he has a resposibility to support those children and thus does not have the freedom to decide to go back to school and not work.  he needs to look for antother job and go to court to get  the child support lowered if he is making less.  see the thing is that your financial situation (which is your choice) does not impact his responsibilities.  and the fact that the mom is working makes no difference.  he must also contribute.  he contributed to making the child, he has to support it.  the 'ungodly amount' is just what he's behind.  his responsiblity that he hasn't paid.  I'm concerned about your perspective on the situation,  the reason his past life is destroying your current life is because he isn't living up to his responsibilities from the past.  neither are you.  encourage him to figure out how to make enough to pay for the child support - even if you have to lose a car, live in a crappy place, both have 2 jobs, whatever it takes.  

Answer 3

He could have made a motion to modify the support obligation but apparently didn't do that.  Therefore, the order remained in force and how owes the arrears.   A parent's obligations to a child, to contribute to the standard of living of that child, comes before the parent's own comfort and the parent's career decisions and everything else.  That obligation is made even more definite when ordered by a court.  So, in order to meet that legal and moral obligation to the child, your husband is required to do whatever is necessary.  That is what parents do.  If the only way for a parent to support a child is to drop out of school and find another job, or to live under a bridge and eat out of dumpsters, that is what parents do.  If he hasn't figured that out yet, I hope he stops fathering children.  

Answer 4

He needs to go in and request to have his Child Support temporarily reduced or suspended. Go in front of a judge, explain the situation and ask for a reduction/suspension of payment. More than likely they will not suspend payments but reduce them to a more manageable amount.  

Answer 5

Apply for joint custody or changes based on income... but just cause his mother takes her grandchild doesnt give HIM credit to be any less of a father.

Should have considered his obligations and responsibilities ahead of deciding he could afford school.

As for you... he had a child with this woman, and now you are with him, so of course he is going to tell you she is awful and you are great. Try supporting him in putting his child first. And dont plan to have children yourself, to do it "right" this time, or you may see him moaning to girl number three about how awful you are, later.

Answer 6

Grow up. Your husband's previous life became part of your life when you decided to marry him. You don't want your "responsible" life to be destroyed, but you want him to give up his responsibility? This sounds very, very selfish. If you don't think the mother is doing a good job raising him, get a lawyer and go to court for custody. Then you will really see what responsibility is, and what it actually costs to raise a child.

What would you do if the child was living with you? Would you stop supporting him because you both decided to go to school? Would you stop feeding him? Buying clothes when he needs new clothes? Taking him to the doctor when he gets sick or hurt?

You could go to court to ask to have his responsibilty lowed, but most placed base the amount to be paid based on POTENTIAL INCOME, not current income. This means they will look at his past income history, and, unless he has a valid medical reason he cannot be working at a job paying what he had made in the past, he will need to pay based on his past income history.

Answer 7

I am sure you knew about his obligations before you married him. They will not go away. He will lose his drivers license. Tax returns will be garnished also. I am not believing that an electrician with 20 years experience can't find a job, even if it is working on the side. He cannot draw unemployment while going to school since he has to be able and available to take a job.