[cep822]

Hello all, I doubt you recall, but I came here earlier this year seeking advice on enforcing a child support order... I'm in Ohio.

I just wanted to thank everyone who answered for taking the time. In May, our contempt hearing happened and he was found in contempt. He was then ordered to do the following to avoid his jail sentence (40 days all told if he does not comply):

-stay current for May, June, July and August (893/month)
-pay an additional $1000 purge
-find and maintain full time employment (that can be garnished).

Additionally CSEA has supposedly put administrative liens on all of his real property...

Now I have two new questions:

1. How do I check to see if the liens are in fact in place?

2. On his way to get our son, he supposedly got his car totalled by an errant semi truck tire (the story smells to me, he was over 3 hours late and likely just didn't want to forfeit his time).

If this is true (he claims police were involved and information was exchanged) how do I keep an eye out for a possible insurance settlement, as that money should be intercepted for his now $11,000 child support debt?

[AK lawyer]

1. How do I check to see if the liens are in fact in place?

How CSED files liens on "all of his real property" will depend on the lien law in whatever state he is in. It can vary. Generally you check with the county clerk of court, or other official who acts as the recorder of deeds in your county.

But you do realize that the problem with liens is that they are only good if the owner of the liened property wants to sell it?

2. On his way to get our son, he supposedly got his car totalled by an errant semi truck tire (the story smells to me, he was over 3 hours late and likely just didn't want to forfeit his time).

It may be difficult.

He could get the check from the insurance company and immediately sign it over to a car dealer as payment on another car. Perhaps you could obtain a writ of garnishment and serve the semi-truck owner's insurance company with it.

But if you in effect take his car away, you are going to make it almost impossible for him to obtain a job. You do realize that, right?

[cep822]

1. I understand that fully. The purpose of the liens is not necessarily to collect though I would like to. They are more to prevent him taking further legal action since he used his real property to obtain a loan to get a lawyer to make life very difficult for me last time. If they have liens, he can't use them as collateral for a loan to try and drag me back through court as he often promises.

2. I won't press the employment issue if he has no vehicle. He has a job now, he's just "self-employed" and so there is nothing for them to garnish... I think the reason they ordered the job was to try to get some kind of steady collection going.