brokenup
Silver
Reged: 05/23/08
Posts: 50
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I am totally lost on how to start this whole child support thing. My stbx told me last week he was cheating on me and wanted a divorce. So after a week in hell, I get up today to find him GONE. He leaves me a note saying he'll email me sometime. Yah, that's real nice! So anyway, he was the one who worked and supported our family. I was the one who stayed at home with out 2 young children. I just have no idea how long it takes to get this all started, or if in the meantime there is some sort of emergency help I can get since he left me no money at all, and took the checkbook and atm card. So if anyone at all can advise me on what to do, cause I am lost. Do I call a Human Services agency, or what??? I dont know if it matters, but I live in Michigan.
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ttina
Platinum
Reged: 02/28/08
Posts: 397
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I would start there. You may have other options... it may take a month or so to start support.... I would also try and get spousal support. Talk to the dept of health and human services in your area... you are not the first one who has been in this situation... they know who to refer you to if they can't help.
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mistake#2
Platinum
Reged: 07/19/06
Posts: 3116
Loc: Florida
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Go down to the Friend of the Court and ask for the paperwork that needs to be filed to start child support, unless you are able to retain an attorney immediately that you can ask to do this for you. In MI child support will not start 'til the date you file for it so do not wait. If you have a joint checking account, go withdraw all monies. You don't need a checkbook to do it, you just need to go to the bank. Keep a record so you can prove what it was used for, household bills and kids etc...
If you are unable to retain a job right away, then you may need to apply for assistance.
Do you own a home or rent?
Do you own a car?
Do you have a credit card with available credit?
How old are your kids?
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**4 weeks to go**
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Jada
Platinum
Reged: 06/02/07
Posts: 3218
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You don't need a checkbook to get money out of a joint account. Just go to the bank with the account number and request an ATM card for yourself and new checks. You can also withdraw money from a joint account.
But once you do that, expect it to be closed.
What you need to do is contact your local social services, they will be able to tell you which agency collects child support. You then contact them and get everything set up. And ask that it is automatically garnished from his wages.
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mistake#2
Platinum
Reged: 07/19/06
Posts: 3116
Loc: Florida
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Jada, it's the friend of the court in MI. She should be able to look it up via internet or in the phone book.
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brokenup
Silver
Reged: 05/23/08
Posts: 50
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Well after what you all have told me, and doing some research, I guess I need to start with the Department of Human Services. So I guess Tuesday that will be the first thing I go do.
And to answer the questions that were asked, we rent our house, and we have a car, but it's in both of our names, and I don't have any credit card money available and my kids are 5 and 3. So anyway, today has sort of gotten better for me. I just have come to the conclusion that life just sucks sometimes, but at some point I will be able to look back on all of this and realize that it made me a stronger person. I know I have a long tough road ahead of me, but it helps hearing from others who have gone through this too! Thanks guys for your help!
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gigi
Platinum
Reged: 11/06/06
Posts: 4779
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You'll also want to find an attorney and get moving on a divorce as soon as possible. I've had friends whose husbands did this to them and it's crazy what these type fo guys think they can do. Some will call the electric company to turn off the power, some will turn off the phone service, the TVs, internet, cable... Or they'll just stop paying and not tell you, diverting all the bills to thier own new address so you dont' even KNOW what all you're missing till it's ALMOST too late (usually it's just "almost"... what I mean is that you find out on the day they're turning it off and you have like 2 hours to rush around & call everyone to figure out how the heck to fix it IF you can... and that stuff usually happens like at 2 pm on a friday after all the judges have taken off for the week...)
One friend was forced to go to a local church to get food for the kids to last the weekend till she could get in touch with a social service agency and a lawyer.
And it's not ONLY young couples wehre this happens. I had a friend who owned a business with her husband. He was the main owner and she was the 49% owner with all the duties of bookkeeping, paying the bills, running the office while he did all the sales. He actually cut her out of the business accounts, as if he was going to be able to figure it out & maintain it without her... he was just doing it to mess with her, but what eh didn't know was that there were nearly always bills, deadlines, payments due... it wasn't like you could close down for a week & come back without penalties & nasty little surprises waiting.
Be prepared. If your husand is trying to pull dirty tricks, some of this stuff might be waiting for you. A lawyer on yoru side will help. Good luck.
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KGrow
Platinum
Reged: 01/27/06
Posts: 3098
Loc: Colorado
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If you have a joint account, the bank should be your first stop. If he's not cleaned it out already, move all or half of it to a personal account.
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ttina
Platinum
Reged: 02/28/08
Posts: 397
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not to mention any shared account must be closed. My ex promised me that he took my name off his checking account.... he didn't, ran up 2500.00 in check protection and bounced checks... they raided MY account for his overages. I still haven't gotten all that money back.
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