Should the courts jail all fathers when the get laid off a job as is being done with child support payers?

Wtf? Jail somebody because they get laid off, er no.

No. When the father is laid off from his job he has a "change in circumstances." He should file a change of circumstances with the court to get support reduced or "suspended" until he is re-employed. It's up to the father (or in some cases the mother) to file the appropriate petition with the court.

ummm no. I have my unemployment check garnished every week...and it is court ordered...it was court ordered LONG before I was laid off. If my unemployment runs out before I am called back to work or find a job I can contact the judge and let them know whats going on and prove my efforts n finding a job...I will be in arrerages until I am employed again. Once I am employed again a larger amount will be garnished from my paycheck to pay back the arrerages. My child support will not be lowered if my new employment pays less than my pervious employment because they base it on CAPACITY to earn so NO ONE can try to lower their child support obligations by finding a lesser paying job.

These are two different things. No. Jail. Jailed for being laid off will place a burden on taxpayers. Children support is in the interest of the child. This covers only a portion of the child's support. It does not cover all the child's needs to survive. Court action against non child support payers are only after they are behind payments and have done nothing to resolve the back owed c/support. If you are behind they garnish a portion of your pay. If they jailed you after being laid off, for sure, you will not pay child support.

Your facts are incorrect. First, they are NOT arresting any “child support payers.” Rather, they are only arresting those that don’t pay.

Second, not paying child support is not a criminal offense. Fathers are only being arrested who have warrants issued for being in contempt of court. Judges only issue these warrants after fathers stopped paying, but before they file any motions with the court. Thus, if you lose your job and file a motion to alter your support order BEFORE becoming delinquent, you won’t have a warrant issued for your arrest.

I'll take 'Leading Questions' for $800, please, Alex.

No,they should hold the child support money out of their Unemployment checks.There are ALOT of dads who don`t pay who are not in jail!!

I don't know if being jailed is the right answer. But the noncustodial parent should help pay for the child . It shouldn't be left up to one parent to take care of a child. The custodial parent cant just say oh i don't feel like working and just stay on unemployment. We have to do whatever it takes to make sure our child or children are taken care of. If we don't have that help from the other parent, it makes it hard. I sometimes think that the people that have to pay child support don't really think about the child, they think about how they won't have any money left for themselves.

The courts should be concerned with the welfare of the child. Whatever it takes, but I'm sure the courts realize a jailed laid off father cannot be looking for work.