How Do I Modify A Child Support Order In Alabama?

by Kathy
(Alabama)

I have 4 children. In 2002 their father was ordered to pay $296 a month based on minimum wage or a percentage of his gross pay which ever was larger. For the first couple of months he paid the percentage, but he refused to tell me how much he made. After 2 months he only paid the 296. He was very inconsistent with his payments, sometimes going several months without making a payment. He got approx. $2000 in the arrears. I went thru dfacs to help me collect support. In Feb. and March 2009 he made two large payments, one per month, which brought him current. I have not asked for an increase or modification in support even though minimum wage has increased twice since the support was originally ordered. It is getting increasingly more difficult to make ends meet. The children are having to do without. They get very little entertainment, extracurricular school activities, and even necessities such as clothes and shoes. These are often bought second hand or hand-me-downs from friends and neighbors. Their father has shown the ability to make large "catch-up" payments in the past, but since he refuses to give me any information about where he gets the money, I’m unsure of what to do. He claims he doesn’t have a job. And I can’t afford to lose what little I do get from him.