Child support that can't be collected???

[Anonymous]

I posted recently about my STBX who's given me almost no money ($200) since I left. I was a SAHM who moved overseas for his career - we have a six-month-old and a three-year-old. I came back to the states for employment opportunities and, in about a year, plan to go back to school. Even though my husband is a fed, child support enforcement today told me they can't collect child support from him because he is overseas?? I have to start paying childcare in two weeks so I can start working. Does anyone know anything about this???

[Anonymous]

I know that it can be hard to collect when the employer is out of state or country. Sometimes you can get an out of state order enforced. IDK about international CS.

Call your congressman.

[Anonymous]

The good thing is that you took the recommendation earlier to have a quick consult with a lawyer so you're going to already be ahead of the game on this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that it can be hard to collect when the employer is out of state or country. Sometimes you can get an out of state order enforced. IDK about international CS.

Call your congressman.

Out of state isn't hard at all, UIFSA makes it very easy.

[Anonymous]

If you owe more than $2,500 in child support your passport can be restricted or revoked. I would imagine that if this happens he would not be able to get back to the US and would need to make his payments to get his passport back (it actually says he would have to apply for a new one)

Perhaps that is angle you could work though I am not sure the US embassy will force him to turn over his passport.

OP you really need to get official legal help. I can't recall 100% but I think you might have been the victim of some sort of abuse, if this is the case then I am sure there are resources out there that can help you for free or no cost.

So I guess part of the issue is this, did they tell you they can't collect, as in they can't enforce the terms of the CS agreement, or rather that they can't even set up an agreement? I would think as long as there is an agreement, if he defaults he is subject to the same punishments as someone working in the US regarding liens, passport, account freezes, etc

http://info.legalzoom.com/passport-held-due-nonpayment-child-support-24277.html

[Anonymous]

You need a lawyer. If he's a Fed, he's going to want to pay (clearances can be revoked for unpaid child support, and if he's overseas he has them).

You also need to make clear to the enforcement office that he works for the United States Governmeny overseas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need a lawyer. If he's a Fed, he's going to want to pay (clearances can be revoked for unpaid child support, and if he's overseas he has them).

You also need to make clear to the enforcement office that he works for the United States Governmeny overseas.

+1. It sounds to me like the child support folks don't understand the details. If he works for the USG and/or has any kind of clearance, he's going to want to pay child support if he diesn't want to jeopardize his job.

One exception if he is not a direct employee of the USG but rather a contractor for the USG - sometimes these contracts are deliberately paid out of a non-US office so that contractors can enjoy the benefit of not paying taxes on overseas income.

[Anonymous]

And if he's a contractor with a clearance, his clearance can be revoked for non payment. If he has no clearance and is a contractor, then you may be up a creek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that it can be hard to collect when the employer is out of state or country. Sometimes you can get an out of state order enforced. IDK about international CS.

Call your congressman.

So your husband is a US Fed? What support office? Go file in DC. All fed is covered in dC.
Get the process started. And don't forget it's retroactive.

[Anonymous]

If he is an actual fed, his employer is US based and you should not have trouble collecting.

[Anonymous]

My husband is with the Army Corps of Engineers (DOD). I'm just nervous because child support enforcement seems adamant that I may not be able to collect. I've reached out to his agency to (a) put them on notice and (b) get more information.

[Anonymous]

To PPs who suggest I get a lawyer, he said my husband is obligated to pay but he has limited experience with even multi-state child support issues, to say nothing of international support cases. I guess I should find another lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To PPs who suggest I get a lawyer, he said my husband is obligated to pay but he has limited experience with even multi-state child support issues, to say nothing of international support cases. I guess I should find another lawyer.

This. You need a someone conversant in child support and how it applies to Feds and cleared personnel. It'll work out if you get the proper expertise on your side. Good luck. It's very very hard right now. It'll be worth it for you and your child.

[Anonymous]

http://attorneys.superlawyers.com/child-support/washington-dc/washington/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To PPs who suggest I get a lawyer, he said my husband is obligated to pay but he has limited experience with even multi-state child support issues, to say nothing of international support cases. I guess I should find another lawyer.

Duh. He sounds like a dumbass.