Can Child Support Be Terminated In Texas

[jenlans]

My child lives with his father. We have joint custody. My child support payments are extremely high. I pay the normal amount plus arrears plus a very high medical insurance premium reimbursement to my ex-husband. This total puts me well over what a can afford to live. My ex-husband said that if I give up my rights and let his new wife adopt him then he will make it so that I don't have to pay child support or any arrears. Is this possible in the state of Texas? Please help.

[aaron]

Step-parent adoption is permitted in the state of Texas.

[jojo4]

Is any of the arrearage owed to the state (ie: did he accept welfare?).

Now, another thought.

Other than the financial difficulty, how is your relationship with your son?

[jenlans]

90% of the arrears are to him with medical bills and medical premium and a few late payments. My relationshipp with my son is not good. Even though I am a good person and have a management postition job and walk the straight and narrow line, my ex-husband and his wife have done everything in their power to intervene. They live 5 hours away and visitation has been impossible. My son is 10 years old now. For the last several years it has been a constant fight to see my son and talk to him. I gave up and just stopped most of the contact. It was to hard on me. I figure I will just send gifts and letters and drive to their town to visit after all the termination goes through. I will just be glad to get out of all the legal battles we have had.

[jenlans]

he is not on welfare...he did adopt 4 other children and gets money from the state for them

[jojo4]

I figure I will just send gifts and letters and drive to their town to visit after all the termination goes through

You do realize, don't you, that if you TPR and allow the step to adopt, you will have NO right to have ANY contact with your son, right?

If his parents don't wish to allow you to see or talk to him, you will have no recourse.

What does your custody order say about visitation now?

[jenlans]

I am aware of no right to have contact. My son is 10 years old now and knows who I am. I will always be his mother. My ex said that I could still come down and visit and send gifts. Basically nothing changes other than no legal wording for me.

[jenlans]

right now visitation says that I can see him one weekend a month and that I have to drive to his home town

[jenlans]

another reason is that I don't want jail time hanging over my head for the next 8 years. I can hardly afford it now...what if something goes wrong and I lose my job or get sick and can't work..I will be in a lot of trouble....I am a young female supporting a grown man with a college degree and his family. Who is gonna help me out when I am in a bind....no one. But they will be more than happy to escort me to jail when I can't make the ungodly child support payment.

[jenlans]

I pay $580 a month based on an $11/hr job...that includes everything. It's just too much.