I need help collecting child support arrears!!

by Cyndi Gaggero
(Portland, Oregon)

My ex-husband owes me over $120,000.00 in back pay... My son turned 18 on Jan. 10th, mind you, he has not even graduated high school yet, and of course, still lives at home...

Here is the "sticky" situation: My ex, Rob, recently claimed that he is disabled (due to his own behaviors) and now gets Social Security, his military pension, etc...for only this last year I was able to get his military pension ($225 monthly) and a small part of his social security ($100), this was better than nothing.

He asked for a child support review and his case was changed to "Judgement", assuming because Aric, my son, is 18 now? I am SO upset! This man skated on my son's ENTIRE life, and up until this last year NEVER paid a dime towards raising him, no medical, NOTHING.

Now that Aric (pronounced Eric) is 18 the pension stopped and so did the social security. I am livid! Do they REALLY think all costs around this child has magically ceased simply because of a birthday? I am still covering his costs!

He is in an early enlistment program and will go to US Marine bootcamp in June, but for now he is still very much a high school-er, dependent on his parent.

My question: Do I have any recourse to the money Rob gets towards any of the $$120,000.00 in back pay owed to me for raising this child completely on my own? Or will he get away with this because Aric is 18 now? Rob lives in California, we live in Oregon.

It was always almost impossible to get the support services here to enforce his case; no license was ever taken, etc...he pretty much stayed off the hook by keeping under the table jobs, etc. So now the back pay pretty much spells it out; he has NEVER supported his son.

I am looking into hiring an attorney, God knows the support enforcement has NEVER helped me, so I know thats a lost cause....Can you help with ANY information on where I stand with my rights to back pay when someone is claiming disabled...

Funny thing, when the courts made it so he had no further monthly obligation, but is required to pay his back pay? right after this ruling, HE GOT AN OVER THE TABLE, PAY ROLL JOB! Well, the paper work had not all officially gone through yet, his employer served and he blew up the Child support office because he was not ordered to pay since his pension & a fraction of his social security was going to Aric.

My point proven! That's why he would never have a "regular" job. So I know he's working now, and all our child support (for 1 year of Aric's life) is all cut off because of him being 18 now. WHAT CAN I DO TO ENFORCE THE $120,000.00 HE STILL OWES? This is SO unfair. The system has not just let me down, the system let my son down his entire life....

I need direction, who should I talk to? I know an attorney, but who? Do I have a leg to stand on?? How hard will this be with him in California and I am in Oregon? Please help us....