Frustrated with FOC

[1mommy]

Hello,
Here I am again. My question this time is how long can FOC drag their feet?? I have been to two hearings on the amount of child support arrearages my ex-husband owes me plus his portion of medical, transportation, and education expenses. Each time I have prepared an itemized list with receipts attached, and of course each time I have to retain my lawyer for the proceedings.
My ex (who resides in some unknown state which changes each time) is there via speakerphone. The first time the FOC said they didn't think there was enough information and for each party to get together with attorneys and work out the amount owed. Well if we had been able to do this we wouldn't have been there in the first place.
The second time, they determined an amount of chid support arrearages but scheduled YET ANOTHER hearing on the remaining items, again, I had the receipts and showed them to them for the remainder.
They wouldn't recommend to the courts that my ex be foundin contempt, even though he admitted he had refused to make a payment since 1/2005. and they did not award me any attorney fees for all this. And then to top it all off I was yelled at(yes raised unprofessional voice) by a person in the FOC because they didn't know how they were going to make my ex-husband pay the money and they didn't know where he was living or working or anything.
My son and I are the victims here yet being treated like crap. AND I have to pay out exorbitant fees to get back what my ex was supposed to have paid. This is not the first, Or the last i'm sure, time that I have had to take him in on chidl support.
So my questions are why is FOC dragging their feet on this?? HOw long can they drag it out? Why won't they find him in contempt or make him responsible for a portion of the legal fees I have to put out because HE refuses to pay?

[Mr. Knowitall]

Perhaps, if you're not getting things resolved through FOC, you should have your lawyer file a formal motion before the judge. You can initiate contempt proceedings without the assistance of the Friend of the Court - it's just that when you do it yourself, you have to pay your lawyer.

[shelle1992]

Your situation sounds alot like my own. My ex has refused to pay child support for over a year,and he is in arrearages of almost $2,400. AND, we have been to upmteen dozen hearings at Domestic Relations-- he has appealed EVERY decision they have made, AND, we have also been in front of a Judge, because DR themselves took him into court for Contempt. The Judge found him GUILTY of contempt, BUT... never got a fine or jail time, or anything... All the Judge did, was tell him to find "More Gainful" employment. He was already working at the time but, claims he was not working enough hours or getting paid enough money to pay CS, and "live off of what was left of his pay".... He has made every excuse in the book why he can't pay. My difference from you is that we all know where he lives, and where he worked-- meaning he QUIT his job just so he didn't have to pay. He doesn't have visitation with our 2 kids-- the court took it from him back in June 2005, so he feels that he shouldn't have to pay CS. We are going back into Court on the 17th of this month because DR is taking him back to court for contempt--AGAIN!!! I am just wondering how long this will go on before the judge actually does something about it...... If they tell him to "find another job", because he is refusing to work right now, I am not going to be a very happy camper!!! I have left DR do what they need to do, and I have not "bugged" them about his missing payments, and I have cooperated with them in all ways possible when it comes to MY JOB and MY INCOME. I let them do all the talking and stuff because I cannot afford a lawyer of my own. If the judge can find him in contempt when DR takes him in, then more than likely he will find him in contempt if I would do it on my own, but, I am not paying a lawyer to do this for me, especially when the Courts don't really do anything about it....They Just say"YES you are in contempt, but, this is what we are going to do with you.... Find you a different JOB!!!" I think that is a bunch of Bologa!!!!Especially when I have held down the same job for almost 4 YEARS, and I have gotten a couple raises within those 4 years, If one person can do it, so can another, IF they really wanted to!!!!

[1mommy]

[ceara]