Parents not receiving child support unite against deadbeat parents.
My letter to Governor Crist
I mailed this letter today and will post any response I receive:
May 8, 2009
Office of Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
RE: Florida Child Support Case **********
Dear Office of Governor Charlie Crist,
I am writing to you today to express my concerns regarding The State of Florida’s Child Support Enforcement policies, and for clarification of certain Florida Statues.
I would like to begin my letter with some background information on my family. I believe this will help you to understand my frustrations. I am a single mother of a fourteen year old daughter. On May 1, 2009, I was laid off from a job that I had for ten years. My unemployment benefit will be $275 weekly. After turning off my cable and cell phone, and paying only necessary bills, my unemployment benefits will leave me with $12 a month. This $12 a month will be for food, gas, and personal hygiene items for my daughter and I.
My daughter’s father, ************, is court ordered to pay $104 a week for her child support. He is currently in arrears over $40,000. On June 7, 2007, he was arrested on a $13,000 writ for our child support case and brought to the Hillsborough County Jail. On June 11, 2007 he was released with a PROMISE TO PAY $1,000. I was not made aware of this situation by the courts or I would have been at the hearing on June, 11, 2009 when the magistrate ordered his release without him paying one dime.
************ does not currently have a writ or warrant issued on him, despite his child support arrearages. When I call Child Support Enforcement and ask why he does not have a writ or warrant, I am told that there is no good address for him. I have given Child Support Enforcement his most recent address and phone number, ***************************. I am then told that the postal verification came back negative.
I don’t think that anyone evading a $40,000 debt or being served a warrant would verify a postal verification. According to Florida Statue 827.06, Nonsupport of dependents (2) Any person who willfully fails to provide support which he or she has the ability to provide to a child or a spouse whom the person knows he or she is legally obligated to support commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, ************ has committed a crime that is punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year. Yet, he does not have a writ or warrant written on him. This sends deadbeat parents the message that there are no consequences for their actions.
My question is why is there this loop hole? ************ has willfully committed a crime and has no writ issued on him because of a negative postal verification. Since a writ cannot be issued without a physical description and location, why can’t a warrant be issued for this crime?
While I now struggle with the question of how I am going to provide for my child, I find myself losing faith in a system that is supposed to be designed to help her. I am not looking for a handout or for pity. I just need to know why this is happening.
I look forward to your response on this matter and have enclosed a self addressed envelope for your convenience.
Thank you for your time,
May 8, 2009
Office of Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
RE: Florida Child Support Case **********
Dear Office of Governor Charlie Crist,
I am writing to you today to express my concerns regarding The State of Florida’s Child Support Enforcement policies, and for clarification of certain Florida Statues.
I would like to begin my letter with some background information on my family. I believe this will help you to understand my frustrations. I am a single mother of a fourteen year old daughter. On May 1, 2009, I was laid off from a job that I had for ten years. My unemployment benefit will be $275 weekly. After turning off my cable and cell phone, and paying only necessary bills, my unemployment benefits will leave me with $12 a month. This $12 a month will be for food, gas, and personal hygiene items for my daughter and I.
My daughter’s father, ************, is court ordered to pay $104 a week for her child support. He is currently in arrears over $40,000. On June 7, 2007, he was arrested on a $13,000 writ for our child support case and brought to the Hillsborough County Jail. On June 11, 2007 he was released with a PROMISE TO PAY $1,000. I was not made aware of this situation by the courts or I would have been at the hearing on June, 11, 2009 when the magistrate ordered his release without him paying one dime.
************ does not currently have a writ or warrant issued on him, despite his child support arrearages. When I call Child Support Enforcement and ask why he does not have a writ or warrant, I am told that there is no good address for him. I have given Child Support Enforcement his most recent address and phone number, ***************************. I am then told that the postal verification came back negative.
I don’t think that anyone evading a $40,000 debt or being served a warrant would verify a postal verification. According to Florida Statue 827.06, Nonsupport of dependents (2) Any person who willfully fails to provide support which he or she has the ability to provide to a child or a spouse whom the person knows he or she is legally obligated to support commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, ************ has committed a crime that is punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year. Yet, he does not have a writ or warrant written on him. This sends deadbeat parents the message that there are no consequences for their actions.
My question is why is there this loop hole? ************ has willfully committed a crime and has no writ issued on him because of a negative postal verification. Since a writ cannot be issued without a physical description and location, why can’t a warrant be issued for this crime?
While I now struggle with the question of how I am going to provide for my child, I find myself losing faith in a system that is supposed to be designed to help her. I am not looking for a handout or for pity. I just need to know why this is happening.
I look forward to your response on this matter and have enclosed a self addressed envelope for your convenience.
Thank you for your time,
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tarah on -
I think this letter sounds great. Just a question....was this guy's wages garnished at anytime or is it assumed he is working under the table. How many years hasn't he paid support?
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Permalink Reply by Tammy F on -
Tarah,
His wages were garnished on and off. It seems when the garnishments finally start, he leaves the job and goes to another. Our most recent payments were for one month in August, 2007 previous to that we received $1000 in 2005 (he had to pay that to get out of jail.) I don't know if he is working or not.
I know that he faces no consequences for his actions and that is unacceptable, never mind immoral.
Have you had any news or any action on your case?
Thanks,
Tammy
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Permalink Reply by Tammy F on
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Here is my response and reply:
> Subject: RE: Florida Child Support Case 960008200PT
> Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 16:25:16 -0400
> From: Charlie.Crist@eog.myflorida.com
>
> Florida Governor Charlie Crist is in receipt of your email regarding your concerns with the child support system in Florida. I am sorry to hear of the difficulties you continue to experience receiving the child support owed you. Governor Crist asked me to respond.
>
> I understand you have already been in contact with the Department of Revenue. They are assigned responsibility for child support issues, and are therefore the appropriate state agency to respond to you regarding your child support case. I encourage you to continue working with the Department of Revenue. To assist you, I have forwarded your correspondence to that agency to ensure they are aware of your ongoing concerns.
>
> The Department of Revenue provides information about child support issues on its website at: http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/childsupport/. The website also provides a complete list of addresses and phone numbers to contact. The headquarters address and phone number is: Florida Department of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement Program, Post Office Box 8030, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-8030, telephone (800) 622-5437 or (850) 922-9590.
>
> As a concerned citizen, you have the opportunity to influence a change in legislation regarding child support laws by contacting your local legislative delegation. You may wish to write to your senator or representative. If you do not know who your legislative representative is, you can access that information at www.congress.org.
>
> Thank you for contacting Governor Charlie Crist. We hope this proves helpful.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
> Peggy E. Kassees
> Executive Office of the Governor/Citizen Services
> 850-488-4441/Fax: 850-487-0801
My reply:
Peggy,
I am sorry if my email was unclear. My question is not for the Department of Revenue or Child Support Enforcement. My question is about Florida Statues.
According to Florida Statue 827.06, Nonsupport of dependents (2) Any person who willfully fails to provide support which he or she has the ability to provide to a child or a spouse whom the person knows he or she is legally obligated to support commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083 (punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year.)
My question is why can't a warrant be issued on a person who has violated Florida Statue 827.06?
I thought it would be okay to ask my governor about the laws in our state. At the very least I would like my governor to be aware that this is happening, that is why I emailed him. I would appreciate if this information was forwarded to him.
Do you have another suggestion of where I should direct my questions about Florida Statues?
Thank you for your time.
I look forward to your response.
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Permalink Reply by mykidisfirst on -
Wow! Tammy we really should do lunch at a park or something.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy F on
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You were 100% right when you said you you got action by copying everyone with your emails! I just checked the mail and got a copy of court papers with a court date. They mailed them to two old addresses they had on file and copied me. I guess you don't really need a "postal verification" before CSE will move. It took less than a month from the date I emailed Governer Crist to get a court date:) He/she who cries the loudest gets heard!
I would love to do lunch. I will be over that way Friday at Adventure Island.
Call me when you can.
Tammy
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Permalink Reply by mykidisfirst on
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Crap! I washed my phone and your number with it! Call me I will come see you at AI
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Permalink Reply by Tammy F on
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After All This...
I had court this morning and the ex did not show, but a writ was issued for his arrest along with purge of 10,000. I asked the hearing officer about my ex's last court date in 2007 when he was picked up on writ with a 13,000 purge and released with a Promise to Pay 1,000. The hearing officer explained to me that unless the DOR can prove that he has assetts that is what will happen when he is picked up on this writ also. I then asked the hearing officer about Jail time and was told child support cases are civil and The State of Florida rarely pursues these cases criminally. I then asked him about getting the case moved to Federal Court (my case qualifies as a federal case due to the time between payments and the amount owed.) The hearing officer then told me that would be up to The State Attorney here, Mark Ober, and that is rarely pursued by the State's Attorney's Office. He then suggested I get a group of people together and request a meeting with our State's Attorney about criminally prosecuting these cases.
Basically he did answer my questions as to why this has been allowed to happen without my ex facing any consequences and that his hands are pretty much tied. My next step is going to be to get a group together and an appointment with the State's Attorney here.
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Permalink Reply by maranda on -
Just keep on keeping on Tammy. This is so frustrating to me.
I do not understand why these people are getting away with this.
I will do my best to email and write letters to help change things
in my state. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help
your case.
Maranda
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Permalink Reply by mykidisfirst on
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I will go with you Tammy. Let me know when.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy F on
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Thanks, I will let you know. I need to contact his office and see how the process works.
Tammy :)
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Permalink Reply by mom of 3 on
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Hi Tammy, I am a mother of 3,however, the deadbeat dad is for my 2nd child; he was charged in September of 2007 with Lewd and Lic Molestation of his own child for whom he does not support, he has NO contact with her but is court ordered to pay support to me. I have been fighting with the child support enforcement agency as well and got nowhere for months until after calling 2-3 times a day they have finally suspended his drivers license. NOW with him being on probation for the felony he committed you would think a violation report would be issued and he would be arrested BUT I can not even get the probation officer to cooperate with me in getting this done...this just shows how messed up the system is. he gets away with molestation of his own blood child, receives only 5 years probation and gets away with being a deadbeat. I just had to vent...hope all is well :) take care
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Permalink Reply by mykidisfirst on
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Mom of 3 write a letter in email form to the head of probation in your state. Give them a week to reply back and then forward your emails to your state representatives and your governor. While he is on probation he should be able to pay support. He is mandated by his probation to state where he works. They know where he works, they should make him pay support. Do you know where he works? You can take the order there yourself- That is if you feel comfortable.
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