A mailing snafu in Naples has thousands of people calling the Collier County Clerk's office in concern. About 50,000 child support billing coupons were sent out in error to Florida residents, even those who had closed or old cases.

The error began at the company responsible for handling the state's child support disbursement unit, which is a part of the Department of Revenue. ACS, a Xerox company, sent out a memo to state and local offices explaining the problem and advising them to tell concerned callers to simply throw the coupon away. It turns out that an employee switched out an old file for the correct one, an action which led to thousands of old child support cases being temporarily reactivated.

This simple mistake is likely to cost ACS as much as $20,000 to fix.

If you believe that there is an error regarding your child support payments, contact us to discuss your situation with an understanding Jacksonville family lawyer who can help.

If you live in Florida and receive or will soon be the recipient of child support, you need to familiarize yourself with current and future laws regarding child support.  One such law, HB 907, covers alimony and child support. It will change the parameters affecting how courts decide child support and alimony payouts in divorce cases.

HB 907 will assess alimony partly based on the length of the marriage, deeming anything from 7 to 17 years as a moderate length; less than 7 years will be deemed a short-term marriage. Under this new law child support can also be extended beyond the standard 18-year-old mark, but only if the child is still in high school or has a disability.

The law was sponsored by Anitere Flores (R-Miami) and will apply to cases filed on July 1,2010 and later.

If you have questions about child support in your state, contact us to speak with a Jacksonville family lawyer as soon as possible.

Rumors are swirling around Kelsey Grammer's upcoming divorce are about the large amount of money he will be forced to pay in the settlement. Now that Grammer is taking no liberties at hiding his mistress, Kayte Walsh, from the public, it is certain that wife Camille Donatucci Grammer will try to take revenge.

Sources close to the family say that Camille was offered a sum of $30 million minus child support and alimony but she reportedly turned it down. Since there is no pre-nup involved in their marriage legal experts believe that she could easily get another $20 million, especially since she is a partner in his TV company.

That makes for a total of $50 million that she could ask for in addition toalimony and child support.

If you plan on asking for alimony from your spouse you need to enlist a Jacksonville family law attorney now.  Don't wait - contact Ellerin Hutchinson today!

The Supreme Court recently decided in achild support case that could prove to be costly for one negligent father. The basis behind its decision is the legal bearing that parents are not able to change a child support order in any way without getting the change approved by a court first.

When Anthony Laura lost his job two years ago, he and his ex-wife agreed to reduce his child support payments privately from $57 a month to $50. However, this agreement is now being deemed invalid because it was not agreed to before a judge. He is now liable for nearly $5,000 in back support payments as originally ordered by the court.

Laura was told about his payments owed when the state Division of Child Support Services sent him the bill. This came after his ex-wife was forced to apply for food stamps as well as other state assistance. The Supreme Court upheld a ruling from a lower court saying that the parents should have gone before a judge if they wanted to amend the child support payments.

Need help with a child support matter? Contact us to enlist assistance from a Jacksonville family law attorney.

What happens when you have been faithfully paying child support for years only to learn that the child is not yours? This is a difficult situation but, with the help of a Jacksonville family law attorney, there are solutions you can explore. However, depending on the situation, you may be forced to continue paying child support even if it is not your biological child.

When the court system is considering a case like this, it always takes into account the well-being of the child above and beyond the needs of the non-biological parent. In fact, they will claim that the child is the victim, not the parent who finally discovers that the child is not his.

The courts have taken on the term "Parentage by Estoppel" which means that since you accepted the duty to take care of the child monetarily, you must continue your duty until the end of your agreed-upon term. Ultimately courts must answer the question "what is in the best interest of the child?" If they determine that the non-biological parent is the best way to maintain the child's well-being, then that parent could be asked to continue to pay child support.

Do you questions about child support payments?  Contact our firm to get answers.

When it comes down to it, the threat of jail time is about the only thing that will make a parent pay child support, according to Judge Mark Barcus.  It generally is not a result of "someone who has lost their job and had to pay less or behind because of it."

One mother recalls her child support story to News Channel 8 this week. Joni Quinn says that every time DHS located the fathers of her children they would quit their jobs. She has been waiting for child support for twenty years, she says, and is glad that one of the deadbeats will finally be brought to court.

John Rutledge, 59, owes $63,000 in back child support. He owes so much, in fact, that he was the first person to be placed on the DHS most wanted list seven years ago. A warrant was taken out on Rutledge in 1999.

Responsible for overseeing the case, Judge Barcus says that failure to pay isn't just about money owed to the custodial parent. It is also about the relationship that these children are not having with their other parent. Situations like teen pregnancy, teen suicide rate, and dropout rates increase for children that are stuck in families with an irresponsible parent.

Are you owed child support?  Contact us to get help from a Jacksonville family lawyer!

John Dale Rutledge did not get to enjoy Thanksgiving with family and friends, but rather spent it in jail. As the first person ever to be placed on the state's most-wanted list for people who have failed to pay child support, arresting him was a victory for local law enforcement.

Rutledge supposedly owes $63,000 in back child support payments and has managed to evade being captured for 11 years. A bench warrant was finally issued for his arrest in 1999 when he failed to show up for a child support hearing in Pittsburgh County.

The DHS Child Support Services Division created its most-wanted listed in 2003 and placed Rutledge at the very top. This list encourages public support by providing information about those individuals that law enforcement are actively searching for. Because of this list, DHS has found 600 people so far.

He was finally arrested in Oklahoma City when a tip led authorities to his location.

Frustrated with the terms of your child support?  Don't wait to contact our legal team to discuss your options with a Jacksonville family law attorney.

Changes made this year to Florida's child support laws may be of special interest to some fathers. The new law states that fathers who have less overall visitation time with their children but a minimum of 20 percent of overnight visits could be entitled to a reduction in their payments. This amount is determined by a sliding scale set by statute as outlined in the new law.

Before this significant change was made, a reduction in child support payments would only be granted to fathers who had a minimum of 40 percent overnights with their children. This will greatly benefit fathers who have less overtime nights but are still in financial need of a reduction in their payments.

There are other significant changes in the new law that fathers should also make themselves aware of.  For example, if a parent must be pay child support for more than one child, each order must include a termination date for the amount of support, and the reduction of this payment with that ending date.

Have questions about child support? Contact our office today to get answers from a Jacksonville family lawyer.

Former NBA player Jerome Beasley, 30, was arrested on a warrant without incident last week for failing to make child support payments. Beasley was spotted by a member of the University of North Dakota Police Department playing basketball on campus and taken into custody immediately.

Local newspaper, the Grand Forks Herald, reports that Beasley supposedly owes $6,651 in back payments. This amount has not been confirmed or denied by the basketball player who did not return a phone call from the Associated Press that had been left for him at the county jail.

Beasley played briefly in the NBA for the Sioux Falls Skyforce and the Dakota Wizards, in addition to some time spent playing overseas.

When you are having difficulty obtaining child support payments from your ex-spouse or partner, don't spent another day trying to get by on what you have. Enlist the help of a knowledgeable Jacksonville family law attorney who can work to get you the payments that your family needs.  Contact Ellerin Hutchinson now!

Lindsay Lohan's father finds himself in trouble again as a judge in Suffolk County, NY has issued a warrant for his arrest. Back in 1998 a woman in Montana claimed that Michael Lohan is the father of her child and demanded that he pay child support. However, at the time of the hearing, Lohan was on parole in the state of New York thus unable to attend in Montana.

Lindsay's father goes on to say that he was late on his second child support payment, vowing that he has receipts to prove that he sent the payment. A New York judge, however, said that Lohan must pay up now and admit default or go to jail. This is after he supposedly was denied three times of a paternity test for his alleged child.

This isn't the first time that the famous father has had problems with the law. Lohan was arrested earlier this year in January for calling his ex, Erin Muller, violating an order of protection that she held against him.

If you are owed unpaid child support, contact Ellerin Hutchinson to work with a Jacksonville family law attorney.

Federal funds are responsible for a new program implemented in Frankfort, Kentucky that will hopefully makechild support a little easier. The Kentucky Child Support Enforcement Program is using new technology to help parents by providing additional resources online. Custodial and non-custodial parents can access this information to answer questions they might have, as well as secure resources for their children.

On the customer service website parents can view upcoming and received payments, make payments, case status, and appointments. This information can be viewed by non-custodial and custodial parents. The public can also use this site to apply for services and obtain general information regarding child support.

Although some functions of this new project are available and ready for use, it is not slated for completion until August 2012.

While your state may already have an information website that you can access, there are certain questions that are best answered by a Jacksonville family law attorney. When you need help securing child don't hesitate to obtain the legal advice necessary to win your case.  Contact Ellerin Hutchinson today!

On October 12 officers from the Sheriff's Child Enforcement Unit arrested 48 individuals who collectively owed over $475,000 in back payment of child support. The Cook County Sheriff's Department went door-to-door with the hopes of finding individuals who had outstanding warrants for their arrest; of the 48, two of the arrested were women. 

Reginald Halford, 49, of the 1800 block of S. 50th in Chicago owed the highest amount, $41, 448.55, while one of the women, Charlene Love, 34, living in the 2700 block of East 83rd street, owed $38,921.00 in back payments. Another 18 of the arrested owed more than $10,000 apiece. 

Sheriff Tom Dart explained that most of these cases involved single-parent families where the other parent was most likely struggling to create a good life for their children while the arrested parent was ".. failing in one of the most important aspects of life - taking care of your own child." 

The Child Support Unit was created two-and-a-half years ago and now supports 12 officers who drive unmarked cars. It is funded by state and federal grants and has made 986 arrests and issued over 14.500 summons to delinquent parents. 

Contact Ellerin Hutchinson if you need help from a Jacksonville family law attorney.

A major victory for the Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies came recently when they apprehended and arrested the most wantedchild support evader in their county. Having racked up more than $28,000 in child support fees, John Baldridge, 56, was discovered after an anonymous tip was given to a Texas Attorney General website. The deputies orchestrated a surveillance operation surrounding his home and, once assured of his identity, arrested Baldridge.

Currently being held at the Hidalgo County Jail, Baldridge will soon be transferred to a facility in Grayson County near Dallas where he will be serve up to 180 days. The last time Baldridge made a payment was five years ago of $22.57 despite a court order in 2001 to pay $408 per month for the care of his three children.

If you are having difficulty obtaining court ordered child custody payments from a spouse or partner, it is time to enlist a Jacksonville family law attorney to access those much-needed funds.  Contact our legal team to get help today!

In Monticello, a man from Sullivan County has been accused of being a deadbeat dad and was later arrested on a 10 year warrant for his failure to pay court ordered child support payments.

In the year 2000, a warrant for the rest of 56-year-old Joseph Johaneman was issued by the Sullivan County Family Court.  At the time the arrest warrant was issued, he owed $5,000 in delinquent child support payments.

This weekend, law enforcement officers received a tip that Johaneman was visiting relatives nearby and they went to the relatives' home to place him under arrest.  He was arraigned following his arrest and then sent to Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail pending his scheduled court appearance, which is set to take place next Monday.

If you are having a hard time collecting child support that is due to you, contact our law office today to discuss your options with a Jacksonville family law attorney who can help you.

In Jackson, a private company's $23 million contract with the state of Mississippi is set to expire.  The company was contracted by the state to handle a backlog of almost 30,000 child support cases in court. Now, the contract will expire in 90 days unless additional funding is located and given to the company named YoungWilliams.

YoungWilliams told news sources that its contract would expire on Wednesday, but DHS extended the time frame to close out some of the court cases that officials.

A spokeswoman with the DHS, Julia Bryan, said in an email statement, "If a funding match is made available, and RFO could be posted for additional services."

YoungWilliams was hired to establish court orders for paternity and child support cases.  If a new contract is not established, the cases would be assigned to DHS personnel or attorneys.

While employed by DHS, YoungWilliams handled about 15,000 cases and earned $15 million.

Need help with a child support matter?  Contact our law office to get answers from a Jacksonville family law attorney.

This week, Mecklenburg County announced that it will offer paternity testing for men who are believed to be the fathers of children in the state of North Carolina.

Paternity tests will be offered from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM from October 5^th till October 7^th.  Men may take paternity tests at the Mecklenburg County Child Support Enforcement Office, which is located in east Charlotte.

A child support supervisor, Christy Stacy, said that the test process takes about 15 minutes and during that time a DNA sample is collected. Men taking tests simply need to bring photo identification with them and the child and mother do not need to be present. However, their DNA samples are needed to complete the test.

According to Stacy, it is a wise idea for potential fathers to take paternity tests when they are having issues with child support or child custody because they are unsure whether or not they are a child's biological father.

If you would like help with establishing paternity, contact us today to speak with a Jacksonville family lawyer.

This week, a prominent podiatrist in Detroit managed to make national headlines after his wife learned he had two other wives and a judge found him in contempt for failing to pay child support and alimony.

49-year-old Dr. Kenneth Mitchell had been ordered to pay his soon-to-be ex-wife, Faye Miller, $10,000 by September 1^st.  He was also told he was responsible for her attorney fees.  When he failed to make payments, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews issued a bench warrant.

Dr. Mitchell filed a motion to seek reduction in support and showed up in court so that his legal team could argue the motion.  However, Matthews noted the bench warrant and had him handcuffed.  Dr. Mitchell was then ordered to serve 14 days in jail.

According to court records, despite the fact that Dr. Mitchell said he was broke, he spent $5,000 on a trip to New Orleans.  Documents also showed that the doctor's two children and former wife are living on food stamps and welfare.

Having problems getting paid alimony or child support?  Contact our law office to get representation from a Jacksonville family lawyer.  

In an attempt to make it easy for the child support division to increase collections, the Paternity Acknowledgement Form (PAF) was created.  The form is also known as Declaration of paternity and paternity opportunity program.  Once this form is signed by an alleged father, the child support enforcement division can start collecting support payments. 

In some states, there are programs that encourage the voluntary signing of the PAF.  However, in many cases, a nurse is required by the state to ask the father to sign a Paternity Acknowledgement Form.

Generally, it is advised that you visit your local hospital before your child is born and pick up a copy of the PAF.  Usually, you will be provided with an informational pamphlet which you should read through carefully before signing the PAF and designating yourself as the biological father.

If you have questions related to a paternity or family law issue in Florida, contact Ellerin Hutchinson to set up a time to meet with a Jacksonville family law attorney that handles paternity cases.

This week, it is reported that conductor Paul Hillier had to make an unusual detour before leading the ensemble Ars Nova Copenhagen at Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival this past Friday night.  While in route to Alice Tully Hall from Copenhagen, he spent part of last week in New Jersey in jail after police arrested him for an outstanding warrant for criminal nonpayment of child support.

A newspaper reported that Mr. Hillier, who was born in England and now lives in Denmark, was indicted on August 5^th by an Oregon grand jury on four felony counts of criminal nonsupport.  He allegedly failed to make approximately $90,000 in payments for his two daughters who live in the state. 

Hillier was arrested at Newark international Airport and then taken to Essex County Jail.  The newspaper reported that the conductor had wired money to an account in the Support Enforcement Division of Oregon's Multnomah County and a deputy district attorney said that he has, "been fairly cooperative, once we got his attention."

If you are having difficulties with a child support matter in Jacksonville, contact our law office and set up a time to speak with the Jacksonville family law attorney now.

While many papers and magazines are writing that a quiet settlement has been reached for reality TV stars Jon and Kate Gosselin, according to CNN it appears that such an agreement has yet to be found. Back in April, Jon filed for primary child custody, claiming that Kate was both abusing the current child custody terms and was absentee as a parent during her gig on the show "Dancing with the Stars."

Due to this, he was fighting to gain custody over all of the children. In conjunction with this paperwork, Jon also was looking to restructure his current child support payments which are said to be around $21,000 a month. While some are claiming they have reached a "highly exclusive" agreement, Mary Vidas, Jon's attorney, has said that such a settlement has not, in fact, been reached at all.

If you are in a situation where you are currently facing a contested divorce, an uncontested divorce, are looking to reach a successful agreement regarding alimony or spousal support, it is in your best interested to contact Ellerin Hutchinson as soon as possible. By working with an experienced Jacksonville family lawyer, you can be confident that your best interest is being looked after in every way possible.

In the state of Florida, when a child support order is issued by the court, the amount of support that is to be paid is based upon 1) the needs of the child and 2) the income of both parents.  Often times, parents experience changes in the income they earn.  When this happens, they may seek modification of child support, which is a change in the amount of support that is to be paid.

Parents may seek child support modifications anytime they:

§  want to add or remove a child from an order

§  want to add or remove medical support from the order

§  want to increase or decrease the amount of child support due to change in income

§  want to extend the time support needs to be paid

There are numerous reasons why parents may seek child support modification.  In order to know if their reasons are valid and will pass a Child Support Order Review, parents should work with a Jacksonville family law attorney at Ellerin & Hutchinson.  Contact us today to discuss modification.

In the state of Florida, a child support order tells a parent exactly what he or she must do to support his or her child.  The amount of the child support order that is awarded will always be based upon the laws of the state and the state's child support guidelines, which are used to make sure that payment amounts are fair.

Generally, the state of Florida will consider the following factors and guidelines before determining the amount of a child support order:

§  Income of both parents

§  Children's health and health needs

§  Children's standard needs

After considering these guidelines, the court will decide upon the amount of child support a parent has to pay.  It is important to note that in some cases, the amount of child support awarded may be higher or lower than the state's established guidelines.  For example, if a child has special needs, the child support amount that is awarded may be higher.

If you would like to get an estimate of how much child support you will have to pay or will receive, you should speak with a Jacksonville family law attorney.  Contact our firm today to set up an initial case evaluation.

In the state of Florida, if a non-custodial fails to meet his/her child support obligations, he/she can face numerous consequences.  This is due to the fact that the state has strict enforcement laws and will take serious measures to collect past due financial support from parents that are delinquent.  If you are behind on your child support payments, know that the state may:

§  Intercept your IRS tax refunds

§  Take your gambling/lottery winnings

§  Intercept your Workers' Compensation payments or Unemployment payments

§  Freeze your financial accounts

§  Issue liens against your personal assets (example:  your home, your vehicle or real estate)

§  Suspend your driver's license and/or occupational licenses

§  Make you serve time in jail

Due to the fact that failure to pay child support can lead to such harsh legal penalties, it is important that you speak with a Jacksonville family law attorney anytime you fall behind on your child support or find it difficult to make payments.  By doing this, you will become informed of alternatives that may help you avoid the aforementioned consequences.

Contact Ellerin & Hutchinson today to learn more about your child support options!

In North Carolina, it is reported that Cpl. A. E. Villalobos has little problems with tracking down people who fail to adhere to the law.  This past weekend, Villalobos and 30 other officers participated in an annual program known as Operation Child Support.  During the program, officers work tirelessly to track down fathers and mothers who are delinquent with their child support payments.

According to Villalobos, when parents are finally caught, they tell officers that "they have been paying their child support."  They tend to deny that they are behind. 

This year, police were able to put 25 people in jail who were late on their child support payments.  Officers say that the arrests added up to $74,000 in bond payments over the weekend.  Despite the many arrests that were made, Villalobos says that the department still has 400 outstanding child support warrants.

Sgt. Leonard Antonelli told news sources that delinquent child support is, "quite a large problem."  Officers plan to continue their efforts to track down parents who are not paying their monthly support amounts.

If you are owed child support and would like to speak with a Jacksonville family law attorney, now is the time to contact Ellerin Hutchinson and learn more about your options.