Friday, September 17, 2010
TN Child Support Enforcement
Child Support Enforcement for the State of Tennessee, it is sometimes hard to figure out whom to go to for help. Some things the county in which the child support was award has jurisdiction except if you have it put in your decree that you want another county to handle it. Then you have the State of Tennessee Department of Human Services that have a department that is supposes to help you with collecting child support. I know Shelby County has a company that they use to help collect child support. Though it seems that Shelby County is starting to figure out that the company is not doing such a great job at collecting it. I guess if you compare Memphis to some other counties that they are doing a decent job. When I started getting child support my divorce was in another county my lawyer had it put in the child custody agreement that Shelby County Courts were to oversee any problems or changes in child support because they had a better track record than the county I was divorced in. In The Daily News, February 8th issue they are reporting that child support payment have dropped by about 13 million dollar in the last half of 2009 compared to the last half of 2008. We must take into account the recession that is going on and that some of this is caused by parents without jobs or now working jobs that don’t pay as much. Tennessee 1996 implemented a law that would allow the delinquent parents to have their driver license, professional license, and hunting and fishing license to be revoked. In September, of 2000 they reported that they mailed notices to 11,000 parents that were delinquent on their child support. In November they ended up revoking driver licenses of approximately 1,300 for non-payment. Of those revoked during these round 31% was Shelby County. This was reportedly the highest number since the program started. The major of these were men as about 90% of the delinquent parents are men. Some people will things are a little strange like revoking the privilege to hunt in the State of Tennessee. Unless something has change I don’t think Tennessee talks to Mississippi or Arkansas, but I guess doing this is better than what they had been doing. I do think Tennessee has made some improvements to collecting child support, but as with most Government agency they are slow to react to changing situations as with dealing with the effects of the recession and unemployment and collection of child support.
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During the time I was a single parent I had to rely on government assistance for financial help as well as foodstamps assistance due to the fact their father chose to leave. I took advantage of the many services the system had to offer such as continuing my education. I thank God it paid off and I was soon able to provide a better life for me and my children. My former husband is over $20,000.00 behind in arrears. Yes, his drivers license is suspended by that haven't stopped him from driving. He has been pulled over by the police and sometimes he might end up in jail and sometimes he didn't. I really could care less, but it's not just me, its the "state" as well that he owes. Unfortunately, when the deliquent parent neglects his/her responsibilities the other parent is forced to seek assistance elsewhere. Cudos to those who didn't have to accept government assistance but don't be too quick to judge those of us who did. However, the real issue here is how can Maxim, the agency for the State of Tennessee enforce the deliquent parents to pay their child support. In all fairness, Maxim did make an effort in offering the deliquent parent(s) to make a good faith payment of $250.00 and payment arrangements. Maxim also offered no jail time and reinstatement of their license/s. Now the country is in a recession,the unemployment rate is high, and companies such as Fedex for example are laying off. How do we propose enforcing childsupport payments now? One way is for people to accept other positions even if it means making less money than before and making arrangements with the agency to pay some amount. Another way is to cut down on some of life expenses until the economy gets back on track. Lastly, just do the best you can to make some type of payment.
ReplyDeleteWell, as a single mother of two growing boys I can personally relate to the high cost of raising children. It's sad that as a parent we have to resort to legal involvement to get the absent parent to take responsibility for his/her child(ren). My personal child support case is handled through a Mississippi public agency. My first hand experience with this process has had its share of pitfuls. There seems to be a lack of involvement from Mississippi public agencies when an absent parent becomes delinquient with their responsibility. On several occassions when I would call to get feed back on the progress or status in pursuit of collecting funds, I was asked to offer information. If I had any information to add I would have long provided it. Technology is a great asset and I thought would make the process a little easier for collecting payments, but I guess not. I know that it is the responsibility of both parents to contribute financially to the support and well being of their child(ren). Even during these difficult economic times, individuals have to provide for their responsibilites. Which can consist of just a good faith effort payment towards their responsibilities. Tennessee child support enforcement I would say is doing a decent job in pursuing and or collecting payments. Tennesse just decided to put a little fire under those dead beat dads/moms, who feel they are not obligated to uphold their personal responsibility as parents. The government already bares a great deal of the responsibility of the absent parent. In many instances many single parent homes are partially if not fully funds by government funds. Government programs like SNAPS benefits, AFDC benefits, and insurance benefits are the main source of incomes for many of these families. Threating or taking away essential documents forced many absent parents to step up and take responsibility financially. Although this tactic may have forced some absent parent to step up to the plate, their are still some parents who just refuse to do so. Other avenues have been implemented to get their attention like jail time. How ridiculous is it to go to jail/prison for something as simple as lack of child support payments. The prison system is already overcrowed why add to it. Absent parents need to step up to the plate and take on the parental and financial role of provider.
ReplyDeleteI am a parent of two beautiful girls who are teenagers now. I have been on TANF but mostly I work to provide for them. I do get child support from one parent from whom i was married to for several years, however, I do not get child support from the other one who i was not married to.
ReplyDeleteI have never depended on the support that i get from the one father only because it can ge gone just as easy and it came. However, the "Great state" of Miss has located the absent father which I could care less to receive a dime from and I have decided that money will not define or make things better for my child only because children thrive off of love, nurturing and affection. The money that will come and go will ultimately help them out but it will never replace the milestones in the kids lives that these other parents will always miss out on.
It is definately a shame how the state has to step up to make someone take care of someone that had been created through the two of us. A child is a creation that only God can make and the perfect gift that only we can have together. When we has turned into me, I took that bull by the horns and made the best out of it only because it will kill you to stand by and watch these people skip out on the only piece of responsibility that should be ultimately their privillege to do.
Hell, they don't have to go to the hospital when they are sick, wake up out of their sleep cause the baby is crying, don't even have to go to the school case there is an award ceremony the child is in or worse case scenario they got into a fight and you have to clear a suspension. I figure that God will handle these people accordingly.
But while I have to deal with this situation with my new husband, we will provide only the best lifestyle for these beautiful babies, and give the so much love that the absent parent will never be able to top, and imma continue to work my life away just to give them things like a house to live in, a car to drive, and when it is time I will give them money to go to school with.
I refuse to allow the state or Maxim harass me about new info on finding the absent parent(s) and gettin me all bent out of shape only to know that as a penalty they lose dirving privilleges and hunting privilleges....hell, most deadbeat parents ain't hunting and will get some random person to tote them around anyways. There are entirely too many loopholes in this law.
O well, enough of my venting session. Excellent post :-)