I agree we do have a huge problem in our state on child support. I am writing this so people know some facts that I just found out that I never knew.
In the state of Indiana, it's not until age 21 that you will pay support or will receive support for a child unless it's stated otherwise. It's not the age of 18. The one paying support has to contact child support or you will be reliable to keep paying support.
If your child support doesn't go through a prosecutor's office - your support keeps building up and they don't go after the person who's paying child support. Some counties do - mine's through Miami County and they don't. I thought that because my support was through court in my divorce that they would go after him or I'd get his tax check - but I don't since it's not through the prosecutor's office.
You can pay $25 to the prosecutor's office and that will get them to go after the person to collect support, and then they can go after their tax check. If you are on Hoosier Healthwise, Medicaid or TANF, you don't have to pay the $25 fee.
The law needs to change. If it is court ordered, that should mean something. We shouldn't have to pay a $25 fee to get the money that is court ordered to us. All cases should automatically go through the prosecutor's office since that's what counts. Sounds like a money thing to me.
Also, changes need made on the once-a-year docket fee to child support. Why is it the person who pays child support has to pay this fee, too - it should be both parents take turns.
The laws and court systems have failed us. When it's court ordered, that's what it should be. Not taking more steps. Speeding tickets you pay. It doesn't go through steps. Our bills after a couple of months, if you don't pay, they get shut off. So why can child support get thousands of dollars behind and months and years? Yes I've seen names of people get arrested for non-support but it's been for thousands of dollars. Why should it get that high? Maybe all support needs to be automatically taken out of checks.
You have a choice now of you paying it or it being taken out. On people whose on unemployment, child support should be directly taken out. Yes, I know it's hard times - but maybe support can be lowered if unemployed. It would be worth checking out.
If you're not getting support, contact the support office and ask questions. It's taken me five years to find this out. Hope this helps.
