Divorce Advice for Men | Fathers Rights Divorce | Child Custody

Question:

I pay child support, owe arrears, and recently was offered a one-time lump sum payment from a pension I held at a previous job.

Will this payment affect my child support obligation or the amount of arrears owed? I was never married to the child's mother so I assume she would have no other claim to this payment.

Question:

I owe child support arrears to my ex-wife, though we are considering getting back together and moving back in with each other.

If I reconcile with my ex-wife, what becomes of the child support arrears I owe?

Question:

I was ordered to pay back child support at a 12% interest rate. Is there a way to have the child support arrearage interest rate reduced or reviewed?

It is on my credit report and makes it harder for me to get a job because employers think I am a "deadbeat dad" when that is not the case.

By Nathan Arnold

Special to DadsDivorce.com

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that parents accused of failing to pay child support can defend themselves against criminal penalties by claiming it was impossible to pay.

For years, Michigan had operated under a strict liability standard that held parents accountable for child support payments, even if they were broke.

Critics, however, have argued that it is unconstitutional to punish poor people for crimes they had no intent to commit.

The ruling now gives parents the ability to defend themselves in criminal cases involving unpaid child support for the first time in Michigan. However, establishing this defense is not easy.

Question:

I owed back child support and have paid off the amount that was ordered by the court, including interest.

The child support enforcement agency is now telling me that there was a "glitch" in their system and that there is a zero balance but a $5,000 interest payment due now.

Do I have a leg to stand on or am I going to have to pay it because of their mistake?