Legal Question in Family Law in Mississippi

Children hidden for seven years, now ex wants to file for back support

I got my divorce in 1988. I also had to file for bankruptcy due to my ex's spending. The divorce was due to her cheating and spending but she still recieved majiority custody. Then a few mounths later tryed to hide the children from me. I took her to cort and the judge gaver her and her parents a warning not to do this agen. But around six weeks later, she hid them once more. I went to get my children and she and her mother would not answer the door. I even had an officer come with me and thay still would not come to the door. I tryed to contace the court and thay said that I needed to get my atterny and take her to court once more. I called the atterny and thay needed more money than I could afford. I was told that I needed to raise more money. For the next seven years, I was re-married and have had two more children but every time I try to save up money to try to go to court, I was layed off and had to move across country to find a job that would pay enough to support my family. Now my ex is trying to sue me for back child support. What can I do? I did not pay because I was to send the payments to her not to the courts. I had no address or phone number. and her parents would not talk to me at all. Where do I stand and what can I do to get more custody? Also I now live in Kansas and thay are somewhere in Mississippi.


Asked on 11/04/97, 10:54 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jes Beard Jes Beard, Attorney at Law

Children hidden for seven years, now ex wants to file for back

While it varies from state to state, generally speaking you are going to be required to pay the back child support, even though she concealed the child from you.Generally the judge hearing your case will allow you to pay the arreage at a very low rate, perhaps an added $10 a month.Meanwhile you might look at filing contempt charges against the mother, and perhaps even to ask for a change in custody, or at the very least a major change in the visitation schedule (perhaps the entier summer) and ask the court for relief on your child support during those periods when you have the child... but remember that to do anything regarding custody/visitation, you will have to file the case where the child is.

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Answered on 11/07/97, 10:07 pm


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