Poughkeepsie Family Law Blog

There are many non-custodial parents in New York that are struggling to make their child support payments. Unfortunately, there may be just as many that could make their payments, but choose not to do so. For those parents, one mid-western state has passed a unique law they think will help motivate those parents to pay their child support.

The law allows judges to sentence parents to community service for not keeping up with their child support payments. Those sentenced to the program called "SHINE" may spend two days a week performing community service projects such as picking up trash or painting walls that have been covered in graffiti. The hope is that parents that are able to pay will decide it would be better and easier to make their support payments than to continue to perform this community service.

Many people in New York may believe that once a couple steps out of the courtroom with a divorce settlement signed by the judge that they are done. The marriage may be officially over, but that doesn't mean there isn't still work to be done. As the divorce is finalized, there are many papers to be signed.

Depending on the assets involved in the settlement, there may be sale papers or transfer of ownership papers that will need to be taken care of by the parties in order to comply with the settlement. For instance, if there was a house involved in the divorce, there will be papers to sign commensurate with how that house is being handled. If the house is being sold by the parties, there will be documents to contend with. If one party is taking title to the house, a quit claim deed may be needed to transfer the house into that party's name.

Most everyone in New York knows that social media sites like Facebook have become increasingly popular over the past few years. As a matter of fact, their popularity has led child support enforcement agencies and district attorneys to monitor Facebook pages to locate and gather information on non-custodial parents that are behind in their payments. One such father is facing three felony charges as the result of an incriminating Facebook picture of himself that he posted where he is surrounded by a significant amount of cash.

Of course, authorities can't just hack into someone's Facebook page. They must first gather enough information to warrant obtaining a court order instructing Facebook to allow the petitioning agency access. Once they are allowed access, they are free to gather whatever information the subject's Facebook page offers.

Michael Jordan fans in New York may have already heard about the paternity suit filed against him. Jordan denies the allegation that he is the father of a woman's 16-year-old son and is fighting the paternity suit. He has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit and is countersuing the woman for making false accusations.

The interesting thing about the woman's allegations is that public records may reveal that the paternity of the child in question was established during a divorce proceeding years ago. According to Jordan's court documents, another man was conclusively found to be the father of the child in question during those proceedings. A spokeswoman for Jordan says he will defend his reputation and himself against these allegations.