My mother-in-law raised three children without ever getting a single support payment. The father lives in the same province, and has just been ducking the law for 18 years. My wife believes that her dead-beat dad is owed a residential school settlement. Is there any way for my MIL to receive any money from a government that couldn't enforce child support payments ? Is it possible to find and claim his residential school settlement ?

IF your mother in law has a support Order from the Court it never dies. She can collect,

Can you find it? Of course - but you'll undoubtedly need an Attorney or investigator.

I would also suggest that you get a copy of this court order and hire a lawyer, MIL is owed that money and dead beat dad needs to be responsible and pay his debt.