Spiteful Child Support and Ex can't get over it

by Will
(California)

I have a beautiful three and a half year old daughter. Her mother and I were never married and have been broken up for over 3 years. I remarried within the last two years. In that relationship, my wife has been harassed by my ex. I was with my daughter 4-6 days of the week; picking her up, driving her to and from pre-school and dropping her off at my ex's family's house. I left on my lunch or took late breaks to do this, yet she would never leave work to help out. She has me paying arrears for the past year, on top of current child support and is now requesting dental coverage. Her family neglects to watch my daughter or pick her up from school; they refuse and give no reason. My ex's family members watch 6 kids at a time during summer break or when no baby sitter is available but refuse to watch my daughter, resulting in me bringing her to work or driving to and from to accommodate everyone.

I received a call saying child support would be raised and dental coverage will be charged (as mentioned above). The conclusion of our mediation (which my ex requested) was that I get my daughter Sundays after 6, for a sleepover Sunday night, Monday night, and Tuesday night she would return after school to her mothers.

There are countless times that my ex doesn't answer/return my phone calls and texts (which begin Friday through Sunday) to pick up my daughter. She claims she doesn't get them. She is not complying with the mediation agreement/contract, yet she continues to charge/request MORE for child support? She has harassed me and shown numerous counts of fraudulent behavior (took money from her mother's bank account and put a cable bill/car insurance in my name, using my SSN). All I want is my daughter. She has another child from a previous marriage; her ex husband had an affair and wasn't in their son's life for the first couple of years. She hasn't charged him with child support or made any restrictions on their relationship... All he does is pay for schooling, which I would be more than willing to do, plus additional financial responsibility (i.e. doctor's appointments, dental, etc).


I am seeking legal help, but have been struggling with work and have finally settled down and have a great home, car, and job (which was requested by mediators to get MORE time with my daughter). I feel like I'm going in circles and she is going to garnish my wages so that I lose my home and look like I can't support my daughter. Any advice or next steps... in regards to fighting child support raises? I can't afford to live pay to pay, on top of paying for gas driving her to and from places (not on my days with her).

I do it to comply and work with her mother, to show I am willing to work it out for our daughter but her spiteful ways, always results in plotting and scheming to ruin my life or have me give up. She neglects my daughter and on her days off, she is often getting her hair done or nails done, leaving my daughter with a baby sitter. Please help.