Child Support Payments and Christian Single Parents(share!)
Receiving child support payments is a major worry for Christian single parents, who often struggle to keep their kids well fed and clothed. It’s no wonder then that custodial single parents rank collecting child support payments ahead of concerns like single parent dating with kids. Of course, when it comes to child support payments, these single parents are not alone.
Skirting Child Support Payments: A Worldwide Problem
According to ACES (The Association for Children for Enforcement of Support) only half of US custodial single parents who are supposed to receive child support payments actually do so. Folks, that’s a lot of deadbeat dads and moms getting away without paying child support. And I suspect these numbers on child support payments in places like the UK, Australia and Canada are similar.
Child Support Payment Enforcement
Many non-custodial parents get away without worrying about having to make child support payments because the party who has residential custody simply gives up trying to collect in family court.
Family court can be a scary, stressful, frustrating , money wasting and time consuming proposition. I should know, because I have worked there for over two ( oh my Lord!) decades. But it’s the only system we have, and can be used for good if you know to do it.
Therefore, if you are a Christian single parent at your wit’s end over getting child support payments, please don’t give up to discouragement and depression Let me instead suggest a positive course of action:
Educate Yourself
Get to know your rights regarding child support payments and the family law in your area. The following sites offer some great resources:
In the UK: www.csa.gov.uk/
In the US: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/index.html
In Canada: www.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/sup/
In Australia: www.csa.gov.au/
Take action by filing a child support enforcement complaint
If you don’t find satisfaction with child support payments through the courts alone, there are private companies who can help you and the court track down the deadbeat. Here are a few off the top of my head:
NationalChildSupport.com
SupportKids.com
SupportCollectors.com
While most of these do not charge up front fees, they will catch charge between 30 and 50% of the recouped child support payments. Pray about wether this makes sense for you.
Remember The Promises Of God’s Provision
Ultimately, human agencies are not the answer for your needs. Remember, your saviour, Jesus, will never leave you nor forsake you. Your Heavenly Father knows what you need, and promises to provide for you and the kids. So if the child support payments don’t come in, let’s believe Him together that he will provide what you and the kids need some other way. Okay?
Bible Verse of the Day
“I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.”
Psalm 37:25,36
Are you a Christian single parent with something to share about child support payments?
