Child Support For A Ward of the State in Indiana

So far I have not gotten an answer on this forum to my questions. Perhaps asking them in a different way may help. I have a 17 soon to be 18 yr old in Indiana that is in foster care . I was told he is a ward of the state (paperwork says ward of the Clark County Division of Family and Children). Our child support order says nothing more than payment of $25 per week. No cut off time , nothing about schooling, just an amount. The case is supposed to be reviewed every 6 months. We receive no notice on court dates so we may attend. Every time I ask the caseworker at DFC about the child support or court dates she threatens to force the child back into our home (could cause further mental and physical damage to my other children and not recommended by their doctors).I've been told since I don't have custody and is in foster care the child can't be emancipated. We are an extremely low income family. My other children have to do without so the support gets paid. The child in foster care is working and will remain there until high school is finished in another year. My questions are 1.) Can they force the child back in the home? 2.) Is there any way I can get the court dates so I may attend (not that I was ever allowed in to see the judge from the start) ? 3.) When can I make the child support stop and how do I go about it? I would really appreciate some guidance before I have to spend the next 10 years paying off a lawyer if I don't have a chance. Things are hard enough without the extra bill. Thanks!

You haven't stated any basis to avoid paying child support. If you believe you would benefit from a review of your payment and one has not been scheduled, as that a review be scheduled.

So what your saying is to try this would be a waste of time and money. Why is the law on a sex offenders side ? Don't my other children have any rights? They are the victims in all of this.

You're his parents. Why is the law requiring taxpayers to pick up most of the tab for raising your son to adulthood? Nobody said it was fair - to anybody.

I pay my child support on time I might add. Just for the record I work too. Damn hard I might add so as a TAX PAYER I am also paying for the extra support. I asked for advice not to hear your whining because you have to pay taxes.

It's not me who's whining.

I'm confused. If he is a sex offender, why is he in foster care rather than juvenile detention or jail?

He is just as much your child as your others. Until he is emancipated, you are legally responsible to support him.

The argument that his support is depriving your other children is moot. If the state had never been involved and he was still living in your home, you would STILL be financially supporting him.

Nobody else had the pleasure of creating this child. Nobody else should have the responsibility of supporting him.

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Quoting Just Breath

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I'm confused. If he is a sex offender, why is he in foster care rather than juvenile detention or jail?

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I was told because he was 14 years old -when he got caught- the State of Indiana wouldn't call it what it really was....rape. They filed it under a misdemeanorhttp://www.expertlaw.com/forums/images/styles/expertlaw/smilies/wallbang.gif and called it disobedience (although he admitted to the act).The youngest victim was under 6 no possible way of consent. (we found out about others later). Since then , while being made to go through a sex offenders program , He offended again.No charges filed on this one for violating his court orders, of course. I have found that most people believe that the whole matter should have been swept under the rug and ignored,but I'm also responsible for the protection of my other 2 children. I've learned to deal with being chastised for my decision to protect the other 2.Shame on me for trying to do the right thing and be a good parent.

We can help you with the legal questions, even though you don't like the answers.

The self-pity is something you have to work out on your own.