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When a couple makes the decision to divorce, if they have children, their first priority may be determining child support and custody arrangements. No matter what the agreement between the parents is, children have needs that must be considered first and foremost. Lansing parents considering divorce and issues of child support may be interested in a recently publicized international child support case that may serve as an example of how serious our courts take child support obligations.
The case involves a woman who adopted a child from a Russia, only to later send him back. The woman was living in the United States when she sent her adopted son back to his native country, stating that he had behavioral problems and she no longer wanted to be his mother. The then7-year-old boy now lives in his native country, having been separated from his adoptive mother for two years.
A court in Tennessee has ruled that the woman now owes $150,000 in child support for the boy. Even though the boy has been living in Russia since 2010, the court is upholding the decision and ordering her to pay $1,000 per month until it is all paid. The woman states that she has no income or employment and cannot afford the payments. She has asked the court to hold the order until she appeals.
While most Lansing couples will not have the added challenge of sorting out child support on an international scale, child support can be a test of any divorce and parenting. When parents find that they are unable to meet their support obligations, they should act quickly to avoid having a large sum of arrearage. In many cases, parents may be able to seek a modification of the child support arrangement so that each parent can function and remain financially stable and still meet the child’s essential needs.
Source: The Boston Globe, “US Woman Appeals Child Support for Adopted Russian,” The Associated Press, Aug. 16, 2012