Q+A: Indiana's child support system

Join Call 6 Investigator Kara Kenney and local experts for a discussion about the state of the child support system in Indiana.

3rd & 7 37yd

I am one of many men paying child for a child that is not his and the court with not do a DNA test because the family is friends with the judge and state. They both know the child is not mine and still continue to make me pay and put me in jail when I miss payments. It's is more than unfair. I did know I wasn't the father until I was told when he was three. I never thought to question it because I was just happy to be a young father. Once I looked back I was locked up. I have lost my real son because I was put in jail for not paying for the son that isn't mine. I have lost jobs homes I was in college and had to drop out because I was put in jail. It has ruined my life over and over but the judge will not give me a DNA test. I can't afford counsel and struggle daily because justice won't be surved. The biggest problem I have with it is the child deserves to know his real father not hate because he thinks I'm am and don't lo e him.

by Austin Smith 2/6/2015 12:42:14 AM

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While the state tracks down "deadbeat parents" what do they do to ensure that all of the child support money given to custodial parents is actually spent on the children?

by CM 2/6/2015 12:42:16 AM

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If child support is so important to the well being of a child, why does the state do nothing to ensure the children benefit from the child support being paid. The state only cares that the money makes it in to the hands of the custodial parents.

by CM 2/6/2015 12:43:50 AM

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I filed contempts on my ex for keeping my son from me for a year and 6 months. I feel behind in support , and she filed againt me for that . he ordered me to pay $2,000 to court for child support or 90 days work release. didn't even rule on my contempts motion againt her . can a judge not rule on a motion ??

by goodad 2/6/2015 12:44:56 AM

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It seems to be a trend here that most of the problems actually start at the local level courts. The prosecutors office seems to not want to have to deal with these cases properly. - of which non support is the easiest to prove and win - simple print out from the clerk and asking the ordered parent if they paid. in most cases if it is not getting paid now then it wont get paid later either. im sure it feels like a lost cause to alot of them. But regardless they have a job to do and prosecute those who need to be.

by jennaca 2/6/2015 12:48:04 AM

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Is it true that the state, when determining child support levels, factors in how much funding they can receive from the federal government based on much child support the state collects and/or fails to collect?

by CM 2/6/2015 12:48:50 AM

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it didnt let me finish - dang it . what i was asking is who should be contacted if someone feels that their case is not being handled properly at the local level.

by jennaca 2/6/2015 12:48:53 AM

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Is there going to be a story about this on the news tonight? Great forum thanks for doing this!

by TONY1 2/6/2015 12:52:38 AM

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My ex just neglects to pay and just moved out of state, he probably won't ever pay and Indiana does nothing if the paying person is out of state!

by Lisa 2/6/2015 12:52:41 AM

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If parents have share 50/50 custodial of child and mother got married this year and the father claimed child last year on taxes and the child lives with mother but only goes bi-weekly with father. Mother and husband tried to claim child but the father already did. He said he pay $32 a month for his child support and pays his $45 a month for her preschool. So he has the rights to claim her not her mother and stepdad

by fran 2/6/2015 12:52:42 AM

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On the child support modification. Can we go to our county and file? Or does this need to be done in the county it was filed in, in 2002? Would love to be able to change venue.

by Marla Rogers-Colbert 2/6/2015 12:54:16 AM

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My brother pays child support monthly and there are times the mom decides we cant get his daughteer. The court has yet to set up any kind of permanent visitation to force her to let us see her. There have been multiple time we have gone to pick her up and nobody answers the phone or door. You can hear his daughter walking around and yet the mom wont answer. An hour later text saying sorry i was asleep! at 2pm while my kid was up running around. And its also happened to when we go to drop her off. We make it clear what time we are dropping her off and boom we show up and nobody is home. hour goes by sorry i was at the store be there shortly. There has to be something that can be done. And its so frusterating that they raise the amount of child support for her to get yet she has no job. Explain why they can get away with that...

by loved aunt 2/6/2015 12:55:24 AM

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I never received support for my son . it was ordered by courts , my son is now 32 , can I still file and get his father to pay me . I called the child support div. they said the prosecutor never picked it up.

by goodad 2/6/2015 12:56:40 AM

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We have my step-daughter 10 overnights/month at the minimum. We provide her with clothes, school supplies and pay medical expenses. Child's mother is remarried and they live in a business they own. Should my husband still be required to pay child support? Can we get the support adjusted without hiring a lawyer?

by Sarah 2/6/2015 12:57:20 AM

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What can a Grandparent do about visitation rights, when the judge won't hear the Father's rights, and he pays his support every week?

by Upset Grandma 2/6/2015 12:57:46 AM

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My son is 20. Why do i have to go to court to get him emaciated. Why doesnt the court do that when he turns 19. I didnt ask for a divorce. Why is now the burden put on me.

by b 2/6/2015 12:57:48 AM

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We are shutting down for the night guys. Thank you so much for all your comments

by kara.kenney 2/6/2015 1:00:24 AM

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I hope you can tune in at 11 pm for our follow up on why child support is capturing the attention of state lawmakers.

by kara.kenney 2/6/2015 1:00:47 AM

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