Sometimes Moms Have to Pay Child Support Too
A recent phenomenon has been for municipalities to put up billboards with faces and names of deadbeat dads who owe child support to ex-wives for the support their children.
But a recent case in Ohio highlights the fact that nowadays mothers are sometimes the ones responsible for child support, and they don’t always fulfill their responsibilities.
Dawn Newman, who now lives in Greenup, Kentucky, but used to live in Akron, Ohio, pleaded guilty to a single charge of criminal non-support, a felony. The judge sentenced her to five years of probation and ordered full restitution, in the amount of $13,514.70.
She had gone over four years without making support payments for the care of her children, ages 11 and 13, who live in Ohio with their father. A tipster saw the billboard and alerted authorities.
It is still the norm across the United States for mothers to retain primary custody of their children when couples divorce. But nowadays, mothers don’t always seek custody due to work issues or any other number of reasons. And sometimes fathers prevail in custody disputes.
More fathers than ever before have custody of their children. A recent survey by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers showed that more than half the lawyers surveyed said support payments by women is up over the past five years.
What both former partners need to remember is that child support is not a punishment – it is for raising and caring for your children. So whatever side of the divide you are on, remember that the welfare of the children always has to be the key concern. Like most issues, ask your attorney if you have questions.
