African American women in every corner of the country are enduring the compounded hardship of surviving in a desperate economic climate and caring for children without the emotional or financial support of the men they once loved and believed would be a part of their futures.
By virtue of the fact that your “baby’s daddy” is already in the deadbeat category, you’ve probably entered the bureaucratic maze and filed for an order of child support with your local Friend of the Court or Family and Children’s Services agency. I know — it’s only the beginning. Getting the support order enforced is what will make you want to drop the “beat” off “deadbeat dad” and just go for “dead.” But before you subject yourself to additional frustration or abuse, take comfort in knowing that you don’t have to fight this seemingly uphill and endless battle alone. There are national and local services to assist you in collecting back child support and making him own up to his obligation. What’s critical now for you and the kids’ survival and well-being is that you do some research to get paid. Custodial parents in need of assistance can go online and get the help they need through an online search — rather than waiting in yet another government office. –roz edward
1. In many states, there is no statute of limitation on the collection of back child support. So just because the child has had his or her 18th birthday, does not mean you can’t collect what’s due. The National Child Support Center has helped win child support in cases that are over 40 years old. Contact them atwww.nationalchildsupport.com.
2. Moving out of state, does not negate the child support order or your ability to collect back child support. Allegiance for Child Support Enforcement has established systems and procedures designed to find absent parents, secure child support orders and collect child support payments. For help, log on to [email protected].
3. AmeriKids Child Support Specialists, Inc. helps secure settlements in full through a smorgasboard of enforcement tactics including: wage garnishment, freezing bank accounts, contempt of court proceedings and property liens. For more information, log on to www.amerikidschildsupport.com.
