Post: #26

(01-28-2016 03:59 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-28-2016 03:53 PM)Barn25 Wrote:  The date of the petition is in march of 2009.

And you haven't yet been to court or established a child support amount?

No this will be my first court for the whole process.

Post: #27

(01-29-2016 12:59 AM)Barn25 Wrote:  

(01-28-2016 03:59 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-28-2016 03:53 PM)Barn25 Wrote:  The date of the petition is in march of 2009.

And you haven't yet been to court or established a child support amount?

No this will be my first court for the whole process.

What took so long to get it into court? It's been pending almost seven years.

Post: #28

(01-29-2016 01:02 AM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-29-2016 12:59 AM)Barn25 Wrote:  

(01-28-2016 03:59 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-28-2016 03:53 PM)Barn25 Wrote:  The date of the petition is in march of 2009.

And you haven't yet been to court or established a child support amount?

No this will be my first court for the whole process.

What took so long to get it into court? It's been pending almost seven years.

Very very good question. I have no idea. they said they have been looking for me for years but the thing is ive filed state and federal taxes applided for foodstamps and at one time was on general assistance when i was one workmans comp.

Post: #29

(01-28-2016 06:33 PM)Barn25 Wrote:  Actually no she really isnt getting anything anymore. You max out on welfare after 5 years if you dont have anymore kids. Yup its the state vs me. Also this court is for the establishment of the amount im going to pay.

This would still be the state coming after you for support if she got foodstamps, utility assistance or subsidized daycare.

Post: #30

(01-28-2016 06:33 PM)Barn25 Wrote:  Actually no she really isnt getting anything anymore. You max out on welfare after 5 years if you dont have anymore kids. Yup its the state vs me. Also this court is for the establishment of the amount im going to pay.

That's not true. The kid still gets free healthcare, food stamps, and free education. She may also be eligible for section-6 housing.

The state wants you to share some of the costs. I am curious to see what they assign to you, I've heard many horror stories about child support. I hope it goes well for you.

Post: #31

You arent the only one who has heard horror stories, problem is family court is a lawless land that makes no effort to really do children or families justice.

Post: #32

(01-29-2016 10:53 AM)Barn25 Wrote:  You arent the only one who has heard horror stories, problem is family court is a lawless land that makes no effort to really do children or families justice.

Yes, but if you skip court your life will be 10x worse so make sure you show up and do your best to serve your interests.

Post: #33

(01-29-2016 11:25 AM)Samseau Wrote:  

(01-29-2016 10:53 AM)Barn25 Wrote:  You arent the only one who has heard horror stories, problem is family court is a lawless land that makes no effort to really do children or families justice.

Yes, but if you skip court your life will be 10x worse so make sure you show up and do your best to serve your interests.

I was just on the other side of a case where a guy who had child support issues and other issues got screwed beyond belief by not showing up in court.

Post: #34

(01-29-2016 10:53 AM)Barn25 Wrote:  You arent the only one who has heard horror stories, problem is family court is a lawless land that makes no effort to really do children or families justice.

and that is the way you should look at it. You are being assessed a fine for getting a woman that can't take care of herself pregnant. Its not benefiting the kids, its not even benefiting her directly. Its for the state to recoup the costs.

Thats the way I look at my child support, its a government law, it doesn't benefit anyone but my ex wife and she's not hurting for money anyway. It removes any guilt you might have, or other people might put on you with regards to what you might have to pay now, or into the future.

They are assessing you child support tax, nothing morally more or less.

Post: #35

In reading this thread it's painfully clear that men in most of the West are truly not free. How can you consider yourself "free" if jail time and draconian or ruinous financial and emotional pain are just a phone call away via some vindictive / unstable woman or scheming lawyer? (there are plenty of other things that make it so too, like catastrophic medical charges, the increasing use of faux rape claims, etc. but you get my drift)

OP is on hard times it seems but here's our glorious legal system coming at him 8 YEARS after a pregnancy that was kept from him and he had no previous idea about. Sure it's now a life-altering event but when you add in the police-state mentality of State of Illinois and federal government coming after you it's downright Orwellian.

An boy, I used to think the system just screwed guys on the higher end of the wage scale, but not with things like "imputed income" (WTF?) it's clear that it's pretty much every guy & income bracket. In today's crappy job environment what happens if you don't get a job and that "imputed" income never materializes? (Jail time?)

Anyway, good luck OP! I hope you do the things that set about a course for you to weather this storm and come out a better person, but boy the federal government in our so-called "democracy" sure makes it tough for guys (and sometimes women too) to do ok in society. But definitely follow the sage advice given in this thread, get a lawyer etc.

Post: #36

(01-30-2016 03:39 AM)Akula Wrote:  In reading this thread it's painfully clear that men in most of the West are truly not free. How can you consider yourself "free" if jail time and draconian or ruinous financial and emotional pain are just a phone call away via some vindictive / unstable woman or scheming lawyer? (there are plenty of other things that make it so too, like catastrophic medical charges, the increasing use of faux rape claims, etc. but you get my drift)

OP is on hard times it seems but here's our glorious legal system coming at him 8 YEARS after a pregnancy that was kept from him and he had no previous idea about. Sure it's now a life-altering event but when you add in the police-state mentality of State of Illinois and federal government coming after you it's downright Orwellian.

An boy, I used to think the system just screwed guys on the higher end of the wage scale, but not with things like "imputed income" (WTF?) it's clear that it's pretty much every guy & income bracket. In today's crappy job environment what happens if you don't get a job and that "imputed" income never materializes? (Jail time?)

Anyway, good luck OP! I hope you do the things that set about a course for you to weather this storm and come out a better person, but boy the federal government in our so-called "democracy" sure makes it tough for guys (and sometimes women too) to do ok in society. But definitely follow the sage advice given in this thread, get a lawyer etc.

You are absolutely right. The kicker is the most of these things cant be constitutional, the guys that actually experienced this don't have enough money to actually fight it and take the court to task about it.

Post: #37

(01-29-2016 12:51 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-29-2016 11:25 AM)Samseau Wrote:  

(01-29-2016 10:53 AM)Barn25 Wrote:  You arent the only one who has heard horror stories, problem is family court is a lawless land that makes no effort to really do children or families justice.

Yes, but if you skip court your life will be 10x worse so make sure you show up and do your best to serve your interests.

I was just on the other side of a case where a guy who had child support issues and other issues got screwed beyond belief by not showing up in court.

Merenguero I have a question for you. If its the state that's going after him, do they not have a responsibility to provide him with any legal counsel? I know its not constitutionally guaranteed as it would be in a criminal case but still that seems strange that they wouldn't provide the OP with any.

Post: #38

(01-30-2016 02:19 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  

(01-29-2016 12:51 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-29-2016 11:25 AM)Samseau Wrote:  

(01-29-2016 10:53 AM)Barn25 Wrote:  You arent the only one who has heard horror stories, problem is family court is a lawless land that makes no effort to really do children or families justice.

Yes, but if you skip court your life will be 10x worse so make sure you show up and do your best to serve your interests.

I was just on the other side of a case where a guy who had child support issues and other issues got screwed beyond belief by not showing up in court.

Merenguero I have a question for you. If its the state that's going after him, do they not have a responsibility to provide him with any legal counsel? I know its not constitutionally guaranteed as it would be in a criminal case but still that seems strange that they wouldn't provide the OP with any.

Good question. Where I am, when the hearing is only to assess the amount of child support, they are under no obligation to provide legal counsel. If the case becomes a contempt proceeding, where child support has been ordered and it is alleged that the obliged has willfully failed to pay the support, they are under obligation ton provide counsel and I believe the obligor has a sixth amendment right to counsel, as jail time is a possibility in a contempt proceeding.

Post: #39

(01-30-2016 02:25 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-30-2016 02:19 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  

(01-29-2016 12:51 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-29-2016 11:25 AM)Samseau Wrote:  

(01-29-2016 10:53 AM)Barn25 Wrote:  You arent the only one who has heard horror stories, problem is family court is a lawless land that makes no effort to really do children or families justice.

Yes, but if you skip court your life will be 10x worse so make sure you show up and do your best to serve your interests.

I was just on the other side of a case where a guy who had child support issues and other issues got screwed beyond belief by not showing up in court.

Merenguero I have a question for you. If its the state that's going after him, do they not have a responsibility to provide him with any legal counsel? I know its not constitutionally guaranteed as it would be in a criminal case but still that seems strange that they wouldn't provide the OP with any.

Good question. Where I am, when the hearing is only to assess the amount of child support, they are under no obligation to provide legal counsel. If the case becomes a contempt proceeding, where child support has been ordered and it is alleged that the obliged has willfully failed to pay the support, they are under obligation ton provide counsel and I believe the obligor has a sixth amendment right to counsel,
as jail time is a possibility in a contempt proceeding.

Thanks for clarifying that. I figured that since its a civil matter at this stage, this would preclude him from receiving any pro bono representation from the state itself. Since he has no money though, he should be able to use Illinois legal aid services correct?

Post: #40

(01-30-2016 08:30 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  

(01-30-2016 02:25 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-30-2016 02:19 PM)doc holliday Wrote:  

(01-29-2016 12:51 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-29-2016 11:25 AM)Samseau Wrote:  Yes, but if you skip court your life will be 10x worse so make sure you show up and do your best to serve your interests.

I was just on the other side of a case where a guy who had child support issues and other issues got screwed beyond belief by not showing up in court.

Merenguero I have a question for you. If its the state that's going after him, do they not have a responsibility to provide him with any legal counsel? I know its not constitutionally guaranteed as it would be in a criminal case but still that seems strange that they wouldn't provide the OP with any.

Good question. Where I am, when the hearing is only to assess the amount of child support, they are under no obligation to provide legal counsel. If the case becomes a contempt proceeding, where child support has been ordered and it is alleged that the obliged has willfully failed to pay the support, they are under obligation ton provide counsel and I believe the obligor has a sixth amendment right to counsel,
as jail time is a possibility in a contempt proceeding.

Thanks for clarifying that. I figured that since its a civil matter at this stage, this would preclude him from receiving any pro bono representation from the state itself. Since he has no money though, he should be able to use Illinois legal aid services correct?

I'm not sure about legal aid at this stage. Where I am, I don't believe legal aid or any other agency would represent him for free at this stage. Maybe someone on here who lives in Illinois could chime in.

Post: #41

Alright an update. I just got out of court, i got a rather understanding male judge. Support is zero until i can find work( no time limit). Also i dont have any back pay or anything so basically going forward in clean!

Post: #42

(02-02-2016 03:17 PM)Barn25 Wrote:  Alright an update. I just got out of court, i got a rather understanding male judge. Support is zero until i can find work( no time limit). Also i dont have any back pay or anything so basically going forward in clean!

amazing...congratulations man.

Post: #43

(02-02-2016 03:17 PM)Barn25 Wrote:  Alright an update. I just got out of court, i got a rather understanding male judge. Support is zero until i can find work( no time limit). Also i dont have any back pay or anything so basically going forward in clean!

That's basically the best possible result. I can't say that never happens, but it is rare, at least where I am. The last time I saw something comparable was when my client (the husband/father) was awarded custody, then we filed a separate Complaint for Child Support. When we got to the child support hearing, the mother was pregnant with another child and was able to convince the judge that she was unemployed and had been for some time. The judge dismissed the complaint, mostly based on the pregnancy issue. We then refiled after she had the kid, a decent amount of income was imputed to her, and she got hit with a good amount of support. There were multiple children involved.

Post: #44

(02-02-2016 03:17 PM)Barn25 Wrote:  Alright an update. I just got out of court, i got a rather understanding male judge. Support is zero until i can find work( no time limit). Also i dont have any back pay or anything so basically going forward in clean!

Fantastic! You got the best possible result considering what they could have done. Many times the court realizes when they can't get blood from a stone. Now I need some similar luck in my divorce here in IL...

Post: #45

(02-02-2016 03:17 PM)Barn25 Wrote:  Alright an update. I just got out of court, i got a rather understanding male judge. Support is zero until i can find work( no time limit). Also i dont have any back pay or anything so basically going forward in clean!

Nice job man. Maybe courts are easing up on throwing fathers into jail.

Post: #46

Turns out there was a law change that took effect on the 1st of jan. Since ill is in an budget crunch jails are being emptied out when it comes to minor crimes and dead beats who are poor.

Post: #47

(02-02-2016 05:40 PM)Samseau Wrote:  

(02-02-2016 03:17 PM)Barn25 Wrote:  Alright an update. I just got out of court, i got a rather understanding male judge. Support is zero until i can find work( no time limit). Also i dont have any back pay or anything so basically going forward in clean!

Nice job man. Maybe courts are easing up on throwing fathers into jail.

Little by little man the laws are starting to change. In Illinois the law regarding child custody changed on Jan 1 towards more equitable parenting time and custodial decision making. This change will now allow for more deviations from the child support formulas to be granted which will help a lot of men out in easing their child support payments. Things are starting to change believe it or not.

Post: #48

Thats really good. Rationality is needed not boots on the neck.

Post: #49

Congrats, big win man.

(02-02-2016 05:40 PM)Samseau Wrote:  

(02-02-2016 03:17 PM)Barn25 Wrote:  Alright an update. I just got out of court, i got a rather understanding male judge. Support is zero until i can find work( no time limit). Also i dont have any back pay or anything so basically going forward in clean!

Nice job man. Maybe courts are easing up on throwing fathers into jail.

In my state, the courts are remarkably light on guys that have never worked. But if you've ever had a decent paying job, you can kiss your ass goodbye.

Post: #50

(02-03-2016 12:45 AM)DarkTriad Wrote:  Congrats, big win man.

(02-02-2016 05:40 PM)Samseau Wrote:  

(02-02-2016 03:17 PM)Barn25 Wrote:  Alright an update. I just got out of court, i got a rather understanding male judge. Support is zero until i can find work( no time limit). Also i dont have any back pay or anything so basically going forward in clean!

Nice job man. Maybe courts are easing up on throwing fathers into jail.

In my state, the courts are remarkably light on guys that have never worked. But if you've ever had a decent paying job, you can kiss your ass goodbye.

These are the changes our corner of the internet have been predicting for years. Feminism can only exist in a rich economy.

The past 8 years of depression mean feminism is a luxury that can no longer be afforded. The state can no longer afford to throw guys in jail just because the mom is a slut.

What has happened in Illinois must also be happening in California and Michigan as well, because these states are also bankrupt.

Ironically, now that the depression has been ongoing for so long, it is becoming safe again to have children with women and not fear the child support jail cell. However, it's just a matter of time before women are responsible and close their legs once they realize Big Mommy government isn't going to cover their asses for everything.

It looks like reality is back in the sexual marketplace. Being a provider as a man should also start carrying much higher value than merely being a sexy alpha.