After finalizing their divorce, our client and her ex-husband were navigating the in-and-outs of timesharing and child support payments for the child they had together. Our client, a survivor of domestic violence, reached out to Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) for help when her ex-husband failed to make child support payments.
FRLS, a non-profit law firm serving qualified everyday people in 13 Florida counties and farmworkers statewide, took legal action to secure both future child support payments and the payments that were already owed.
Through the Victims of a Crime Act (VOCA) program, our team helped by filing a motion to hold the ex-husband in contempt after the divorce. This meant the court could step in and make sure he paid the child support he owed. FRLS was ready to stand by our client in court if he didn’t follow through. The judge ordered that child support be taken directly from our client’s ex-husband’s paycheck and sent to her. This made sure future payments wouldn’t be missed.
Meanwhile, our team kept pushing to recover the over $1,000 in back payments he still owed. Even though our client received threats from her ex trying to scare her away from claiming what she was owed, we reminded her that his threats didn’t change his legal responsibility to support his child. After months of back-and-forth, our team was able to get her a check for the full amount she was owed.
Child support, which is determined by the court, is a mandatory obligation in the state of Florida. If your ex-spouse is late or missing child support payments, the court may inform them that failure to make payments could result in payments being deducted from their income, which is what happened in this instance. If you or someone you know needs help securing child support payments, contact FRLS at 1-888-582-3410 to see if you qualify for our free services.
About Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS):
Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide. Since 1966, FRLS has pursued justice by providing legal services in
housing law, family law, consumer protection, public benefits, elder law, disaster relief, education law, tax advocacy, and more, all at no cost to our clients. FRLS collaborates with community organizations and Pro Bono attorneys to deliver quality advocacy, outreach, and education designed to protect the rights of those in need. For over 50 years, FRLS has been a steadfast advocate for justice. Learn more at www.FRLS.org.