Parents in Illinois and Potchefstroom are facing difficulties in navigating the complex child support systems and receiving the support they are owed. In Illinois, one parent, Megan Haines, has not received any child support in over a year because her ex-husband is avoiding payment by working for a company that pays him in cash. Haines has tried various avenues for assistance, including the Illinois State Child Support Disbursement Unit and the McLean County State's Attorney's office, but has not been successful in obtaining support. The child support system in Illinois has been plagued by issues, including a lack of enforcement and difficulties in tracking down non-custodial parents who work as independent contractors. However, new legislation requiring businesses to report contractors to the employment register aims to address this problem. The state is also working on improving its technology infrastructure to better communicate with non-custodial parents and streamline the child support process. Despite these challenges, Illinois has made progress in metrics such as establishment of parentage, payment of current support, and collections of past due support.
In Potchefstroom, South Africa, maintenance court delays are leaving single mothers struggling as thousands of cases languish. Marlene Steyn du Toit, a local lawyer, highlights severe delays in obtaining maintenance orders, with some taking up to six months. The backlog is due to systemic failures and understaffing at the maintenance courts. There are currently only two maintenance clerks and one maintenance officer responsible for over 3000 active cases. Administrative bottlenecks and physical infrastructure issues further exacerbate the situation. The Department of Justice acknowledges the challenges but little progress has been made in addressing the backlog. Advocates are calling for urgent intervention to prevent the justice system from being discredited and compromising human dignity and equality.
In a recent court victory in Illinois, a struggling father sought help from the Leving legal team after the mother of his little girl abandoned her. The father, who was the sole caretaker of his daughter, reached out to the Leving legal team for assistance. The team successfully secured a Court Order requiring the mother to pay child support. However, the mother violated the Court Order and refused to pay any child support. The Leving team then filed a Petition for Rule to Show Cause, arguing that the mother had willfully violated the Court Order. The Court found the mother in contempt and ordered her to pay the outstanding child support. When the mother continued to violate the Court's Orders, the Leving team requested that the Court order her incarceration. The Court agreed and ordered the mother to be incarcerated until she paid the child support that was due. Attorney Jeffery Leving will discuss this case on his radio show, the Dads' Rights Legal Hour.
This legal victory highlights the challenges faced by parents in the child support system and the importance of enforcing Court Orders. It also emphasizes the need for improved enforcement mechanisms and support for custodial parents who are struggling to receive the child support they are owed. The case serves as a reminder that legal action can be taken to hold non-paying parents accountable and ensure that children receive the financial support they need and deserve.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, the Department of Justice has temporarily suspended electronic payments for child maintenance after attempts were made to hack their system. An investigation is underway to assess potential breaches, and beneficiaries are advised to visit nearby courts for manual payments until the electronic service is fully restored. The department has assembled a forensic team to investigate any suspicious activity and is committed to fortifying their systems to prevent future breaches. The suspension of electronic payments has caused inconvenience to child maintenance beneficiaries, and the department apologizes for the inconvenience caused.
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