[sageofages]

Originally Posted by James

There is probably some study that shows that the more time the non-custodial parent spends with his/her child the better the payment record.

I always thought that regardless of "custody" the parent that is paying child support should have to spend a significant amount of time with the child.

Its harder to neglect someone you see all the time. "out of sight, out of mind."

Keeps honest people honest.

Not always....in my daughters cases (both are in their 20s now)

my oldest daughter's father saw her every single visitation, holidays and then some. I kept a decent relationship with him. He paid his support ontime....until the day he and his second wife divorced. The support payments stopped. Come to find out she was the one writing the checks. She and I get along wonderfully (crazy isn't it ) He continued to see her as dictated by our paternity agreement. And to date he owes me about $8,000.

Youngest daughter's father was court order no visitation. He pays only when the "state" finds him through his employer. To date he still owes around $35,000. She prefers to ignore his existence.

Lawyers want 1/3 of the amount due to them. The state will hunt these guys down for free eventually. I don't really need the money anymore, but I use it as a torture device anymore...and I admit it.