Legal Help for poor father's

[shell_belle67]

Is there such a thing as father's rights in this county? Is there any place in this county that offers legal help for people who can't afford it. We have exhausted all of our options. My brother is getting railroaded by his ex-girlfriend and her rich family who happen to know everyone in the court system, atleast from what she told me, and I believe because he can't get a fair shake and gets turned down by every government agency he has talked to. He just went to court AGAIN because she is trying to increase child support- my brother is $1000 ahead of his support. He lost his job last month and moved back here- he's now making $6 an hour and the gentleman at the courthouse wouldn't even let my brother appear in front of the judge-(and he asked numerous times to be seen in front of the judge). They wouldnt let him. They increased his child support to $400 a month(then told him that he was lucky thats all they did) - and wouldnt even look at his paystubs to verify his income. His ex is claiming a bogus salary and claims she pays MAMSI $649 a month for health insurance for my nephew... I just can't believe that- she didnt even show proof, they just automatically assumed her to be correct. My brother needs to talk to someone who knows the law but as I said, he is poor, he has no money and he is living with me until he can get back on his feet. His ex on the otherhand has over $350,000 in assets. Where is the justice...????

How can anyone survive on $75 a week!!! Is there anyone, any agency, who helps men like my brother???

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Your brother needs to pay child support regardless of his current status or income. There is a child that needs to be fed, clothed & provided for. FYI, I'm not all certain a judge has to be present during a support hearing. Each side presents their evidence and the support is ordered based on guidelines.

 

[Ken King]

Legal Aid Bureau 301-884-6661

 

[shell_belle67]

He has called Legal Aid- they wont help him.

My brother has never missed a child support payment and has overpaid on his child support when he can. But now that his income is far less than what it was 2 years ago, they still increased his support payments. They never looked at his paper stubs, he had his hand out offering it, and his ex told him that the case was already closed, and thats when the gentleman from the courts told him he was lucky that is all he has to pay. I dont think thats fair at all.

 

[vraiblonde]

He has called Legal Aid- they wont help him.

Why not? I think there is more to this story than what you are telling us. Either that or more than your brother is telling you.

 

[citysherry]

Encourage your brother to get a second job to help pay what he rightfully owes in support of his child. By the way, your ex-sister-in-law is probably paying well over $600 a month for insurance - my husband and I had to cobra our insurance for a year with MAMSI and we paid over $800.00 a month for a family plan.

 

[Toxick]

Is there such a thing as father's rights in this county?

No.

Sorry.

 

[Toxick]

Encourage your brother to get a second job to help pay what he rightfully owes in support of his child.

Hear, Hear!

While he's doing that, it might not be a bad idea for him to include a pint of blood and a pound of flesh with his checks.


I think minimum child support should be $800 per week, regardless of income.

 

[vraiblonde]

While he's doing that, it might not be a bad idea for him to include a pint of blood and a pound of flesh with his checks.

Oh stop it

What's wrong with fathers helping to financially support their offspring? This is why women don't feel like its any of the guy's business if she wants to get an abortion.

 

[vraiblonde]

Tox, if you couldn't support your family on one job, wouldn't you take a second one? So why is it so horrible if someone has to do that in order to pay child support?

 

[pixiegirl]

Hear, Hear!

While he's doing that, it might not be a bad idea for him to include a pint of blood and a pound of flesh with his checks.


I think minimum child support should be $800 per week, regardless of income.

$400 a month is too much to pay? At $6 an hour he's making over a thousand dollars a month and living rent free.

Don;t you have kids? They're not cheap. I pay over $1000 a month in daycare alone!

 

[pixiegirl]

Tox, if you couldn't support your family on one job, wouldn't you take a second one? So why is it so horrible if someone has to do that in order to pay child support?

Ya know my POS ex always uses the excuse that he can't find a job... Ya know what buddy, McDonalds will give you a paycheck.

 

[Toxick]

What's wrong with fathers helping to financially support their offspring?

I didn't say that.

I'm supporting my kids, and should anything happen between their mother and I, they would still be taken care of. One can only hope that the amount is set to something that I can afford.


However, It seems in this case (given the information we currently have is accurate and thorough) the guy is being forced to pay support that is beyond his means.

This is why women don't feel like its any of the guy's business if she wants to get an abortion.

I'm not even going to dignify that with a response.

 

[BuddyLee]

Ya know my POS ex always uses the excuse that he can't find a job... Ya know what buddy, McDonalds will give you a paycheck.

Don't bring me in on this, I don't have POS children yet.

 

[MMDad]

Why not? I think there is more to this story than what you are telling us. Either that or more than your brother is telling you.

There has to be something more to this. Is it just that he's stupid? Or incompetent? Maybe the judge sees through his lame excuses?

If someone makes enough to pay the agreed amount, then loses that job, why should the child suffer? If I choose to go to work selling cabbages, I should still have to pay to feed my kids. Of course, maybe that mentality is why I still have a job.

 

[pixiegirl]

I didn't say that.

I'm supporting my kids, and should anything happen between their mother and I, they would still be taken care of. One can only hope that the amount is set to something that I can afford.


However, It seems in this case (given the information we currently have is accurate and thorough) the guy is being forced to pay support that is beyond his means.





I'm not even going to dignify that with a response.

Well since you haven't been through the system. Child support is set very fairly based on both parents income and the cost to raise the child monthly. A worksheet is used for everyone so that no one gets screwed. If you lose your job it is still your responsibility to pay. $400 a month is not a lot of money and it's certainly not the momma's fault or the kid's fault that daddy's only making $6/hr. He needs to get up off his arse and get 2 jobs or one better paying one.

 

[Toxick]

Tox, if you couldn't support your family on one job, wouldn't you take a second one? So why is it so horrible if someone has to do that in order to pay child support?

That all depends on why wouldn't I be able to support them with one job.

Is it because of poor money management, too much BINGO, or because the children simply MUST have Abercrombie & Fitch t-shirts?


Also, if it came to that, my wife would take a job - being that it's her family too. If we STILL couldn't make ends meet, then I would consider taking a second job.


There is nothing horrible about paying child support, however, if you're already paying as much as you can, and for some reason it goes UP, I find that to be unfair.

 

[MMDad]

Is there anyone, any agency, who helps men like my brother???

He could help himself and stop being a victim?

 

[Vince]

Oh stop it

What's wrong with fathers helping to financially support their offspring? This is why women don't feel like its any of the guy's business if she wants to get an abortion.

Then why doesn't it work that way for the women as well? And don't give me the BS that it does. Been there and done that.

 

[vraiblonde]

Ya know my POS ex always uses the excuse that he can't find a job... Ya know what buddy, McDonalds will give you a paycheck.

For real.

Anyway, Shell's brother is giving her a song and dance. There's no way every single judge AND the Legal Aid people are plotting against him. Maryland uses a simple formula to determine child support:

http://www.peoples-law.org/family/divorce/Child Support/cal/MDCSC.html

Anyone who tells you they are getting raked over the coals is either lying or it's their own fault - not getting a court to determine CS, not fighting for what they deserve, whatever.