No Help from Father

Was any of this established through the courts or in writing? If not, you're going to have to get an attorney. My friend went through this and she regrets never doing anything formal. Do it now while you can because she is out thousands of dollars, meanwhile her ex was living the good life with his new wife and baby, completely forgetting about his other 2 kids. If you can't afford an attorney, call around and see if you can find someone who will work with you. In the meantime, keep a journal of everything he has done, or not done. It will save a lot of time and you will have everything lined up.

B. I was never married to my 5 year olds dad, and he is a pill too! He pays below minimum of his monthly child support and NO EXTRA! He has left me thousands in debt with my daughter cardiologist bills. I am working fulltime and going to college part time, there is hardly any extra money left over after bills. I feel for you. I wish I was able to give you more advice, if you are able to hire a lawyer, that would be your best bet. Best of Luck...

S.

B.~I am divorced, and I my ex husband (I have full custody), does not take my kids on weekends, he says that he pays me to be his full time sitter (he pays 500 a month for 2 kids), he buys nothing for birthdays/nothing for christmas, he says thats what child support is for. He says if I put 500.00 a month towards the kids, that should cover everything, I told him please tell me when you have fed, clothed, and roofed 2 kids for 1,000 a month. If it was me, I would take him back to court. I have insurance so i dont have that problem right now, but if a time came that my child needed braces, by all means I would take him court. Im not sure what county you live in, but after 2 years, since he pays you, you can go back to court to have his support raised, and at that time I would talk about the medical expenses. I am in the process of filing to take my ex husband back, it has been 2 yrs since our divorce, and he didnt live up to any of the promises that he said he was going to. He promised to be a good dad and to help, my kids are lucky if they see him every other month and he lives 3 blocks away from me.

Been there --- done that and with my son now 25 years old --- I am still going through it. My ex is a waste of skin. The only thing he has ever done for my son is stay out of his life. At least until my son was about 13 --- then he laid a guilt trip on him by saying to my son "You don't love me --- don't you want to come see me instead of go skating with your friends?" I got on the phone and called him names I have never even heard of. My ex is an alcoholic to this day. Child support --- he thought $25 a week was too much and when he was over $5,000 in arrears --- he requested a modification. He felt that since I had re married --- he shouldn't have to pay child support. The child support was raised $15.oo to cover the arrears. My current husband was paying his son's child support faithfully. As a matter of fact -- he hurt his back at work and was off work for 2 weeks --- the child support threatened to arrest him for being 2 weeks behind. I told them to come and get him because I would call the papers and TV stations. My ex was over $5,000 in arrears and they were going to arrest my husband for 2 weeks. The child support bureau is a big joke as far as I am concerned. I could go on for hours and someday I will write a book.
Back to your issue. I had it written that my ex was to carry medical insurance --- he never did. He was suppose to split co pays with me --- never did. He was suppose to split educational expenses. Guess --- never did.
I took him to small claims court --- who the hell needs an attorney when it is in black and white? I won --- the I was told --- you will have to garnish his wages. Right --- the man never kept a job. He had 17 one year. I never recovered expenses and when my son turned 18 -- the child support was dropped. I received a check here and there for the next few years and now when they owe less than a certain amount --- it is wiped clean.
Braces -------- OMG --- you are right for getting them. I couldn't afford them for my son and even though he is now 25 --it still bothers him to have "Shark Teeth". He has rows of teeth and the middle of his 2 front teeth are actually no where near the middle. I hurt to see him hurt so bad. His self esteem is non existant. He rarely smiles.
Take him to court --- small claims or see if you are eligible for legal aid. Make him pay his responsibility --- if you were still married --- it wouldn't even be an issue. I hate dead beat parents who because of their resentment --- play the children.
Take the divorce decree to the Orthodontic and have them bill your ex for his portion. He can talk to my son if he wants --- maybe he would see how it will affect your sons. Garnish his wages -------- whatever it takes --- do it.
You will always be the bad guy in his eyes anyway --- no matter what --- your kids come first.
C. ------------- ____@____.com
I can give you the name of a very good and very reasonably priced attorney in Elyria.

Looks like he wants to be the "Cool Dad" in the eyes of his kids. But a BIG jerk to you. Have you contacted an attroney, perhaps the one you used when you got your divorce. Maybe all you need to do is talk to one and then he will payup. It sounds like he is going to be (a few choice words) person until the boys are grown and on their own.
I am sorry for the troubles you have and can only wish you luck!

Hello B.,

Here is a suggestion, have you thought about applying for state benefits? I am a single mother of four wonderful children and I do not get child support, I do it on my own. I moved to Ohio a year ago and that was one of the first things that I did. Now another idea would be to talk to a social worker about a state authorized attorney? That helped me I started that about two months ago and they are now going to track down my ex and he has a warrant for his arrest on non payment of child support. Hope that this helps!! Let me know.

I am not divorced but I am sure that the orthodontist should bill him for the majority of the braces if you have his address. If not, the insurance company should send him the bill of what's left, at least his share. I don't think it matters that it's "cosmetic." It leads to future problems if not taken care of while they are young. Good luck

You could take him to court and represent yourself. It would require some reading up and preparation, but it can be done. You could always ask a lawyer's opinion on how to best represent yourself as well. It would probably cost some money to get an opinion if you don't know any lawyers, but if you win your case, it would be worth it. My husband represented himself when he had to sue someone, and even though the other party was a lawyer, he was in the right, and he won. I hope this helps.

B., if your agreement was he pay 70% agreed to each other and the attorney documented that and it is in the divorce papers, then he don't have much say in the matter, he is supposed to abide by the agreement.
I have not priced braces, but that seems a bit steep, but then again, dental plans are not that good no matter where you work.

As far as the father wanting to get dirt bikes, this could lead to more doctor bills, and if he is not willing to pay his part, I would restrict riding dirt bikes for fear of injury and medical bills.

I have full custody of my 2 kids, except for a 3 hour a week supervised visit. She pays nothing to me, no support or medical ect ect...

I would rather have that then her have the kids on a weekend or something, so I don't complain.

In your case, if he has 50% shared living, then the cost should equal out also or he gets what he pays for in my eyes.

Example, pay 20% of living costs, he gets them 1 day a week.
Pay 50% get them 2 weeks a month....

Whats fair and agreed on is what should stick or get it changed.
I think a trip to the child support with your court papers will get action without cost to you.
Start there.
R.

ok first off is this in a court document? does it actually say that he has to pay 70% of all medical bills? if so then he can be held in contempt and to get an attorney for a contempt charge is only a couple hundred dollars. i know money may be tight but what is 200 hundred bucks out of 3000? it's not nearly as expensive as say taking him to court for custody problems ect. if he is that unwilling to pay i don't see you as having much chioce other than that. you could also talk to your child support case worker. they might be able to offer some advice as well. good luck and take care.

He sounds alot like many ex's thats for sure so I feel for you there.The only choice you may have would be an attorny..However you might want to try legal aid..Ive not gone through them myself however I do know that they can be a big help at an extreme fraction of the price.I wish you luck.. I know mine owes me over $10,000 himself for our two daughters.Also make sure your up on your rights..If he has an increase in pay or whatnot every so often you can request an up date on your child support case.. in which they can determine if you have the rights to obtain more money..One way or another something has got to give!!!
Good luck !!!

Honey i been there done that without an attorny and i won. Gather all of your medical bills that you have and any court documentation you have. Child support orders, divorce decree etc and do this.

One take them to the CSEA and show them look here are all these medical bills. He is orderd to pay this much and he has not. Help me. Trust me they will get right on that.

Two contact the Legal Aid society and they will hook you up with a lawyer free of charge and then sue his A** for everything hes got. Trust me if you have all the imformation the judge needs, showing that he has to pay 70% of all the bills then you will win the case.

Good luck hon and i hope your boys smile looks beautiful after all of this!