How does child support work?

Good luck collecting from someone with no job. I would think he would be in big trouble with the authorities. But I don't know the laws in Florida. He's a deadbeat, don't hold your breath! You are in charge and need to be responsible. Don't wait around for money from him. Take care of you and your child. Raise her well.

Child support is based upon his ability to pay. If he was working and they determined some amount, then he can show he is unemployed and they will reduce the amount greatly. You need to talk to a lawyer about this. Remember, this "child support" is money for your child, not your rent or your car payment or your food or your Friday night out. Many people who receive this money think it is their money to spend on themselves and they buy things with the expectation of being able to pay for it with this payment. I would think about it and determine just how much you really spend on your child, and if you are getting any payments, take half of what you spend per month on the child from the payment, and put the rest into some kind of account for your child's future. Maybe if you have some unexpected cash problem, you could borrow from it, but really, that money is for the maintenance of your child. No, your child is not owing half of your house payment either. You have to pay for all of it yourself. So I hope you have a job. Too many women misuse this money.

Stay on top of it ~ If he doesn't pay then go to the courts ~ they will put him in jail, make him work on the side of the road picking up trash and send you the $3.35 hr that they pay him. Make sure you file it through your states child support enforcement office and they will strongly persue it....or collect welfare and they will make him pay it all back.

If he has no job, they do nothing.

Child support is taken from his wages directly.

he's behind $30,000 for the first kid... and he's unemployed....and you think you're getting money?