Q: My child’s father hasn’t paid child support in 14 months. Probation is giving me the run around. Called them 12 times.
Spoke to someone in November 2021 they said I would receive a court date in a few weeks. In January 2022 someone else said they need to look into it. February 2022 they need to verify address/phone number that I gave them. March 2022 somehow didn’t have a record of the address so I provided it again along with his phone number, they said it takes 14 weeks to verify the address. July 2022 they verified the address and now need his telephone number. Am I in the twilight zone? Not 1 payment since June of 2021 and I have to repeatedly push the issue of enforcement? In between the phone calls I also use the chat to get updates and also gave them the phone number and address of the child’s father every single time.
A: Im sorry for the experience you are dealing with trying to enforce child support through the probation department system. I dont know if you have the ability to reach out to the senior probation department manager of the county to ask for assistance or if you can contact the head of the probation department system in Trenton but my experience is that the squeaky wheel gets the most attention and the more passive you are with your dealings with the probation department, it seems as if you are continually being put to the bottom of the pile of priorities. My suggestion is that you press for intervention by a superior in the department. Good luck.
A: I know this must be very frustrating. The quickest way around the red tape in the probation department is to file a motion for enforcement. You should consult an experienced family law attorney for more information on doing that. Part of your motion can include a request for the other party to pay your counsel fees incurred to enforce the child support.
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