A web site that targets change in the Child Support systems of the world by helping people understand the pros and cons of the process and looking for the tools to change the systems that need it.
NEW: The For Fair Child Support Blog (web log) is available, post your questions and comments.
ALERT: A Lesson for those who don't keep up to date with the payments and equalization.
According to news reports from CTV and the CBC, the Supreme Court of Canada has seen it just to negate the equalization clause that would allow a non-custodial parent to realize a reduced support cost should (s)he become and equal contributor to the parenting time. While this makes absolutely no sense to the payors, the payees are dancing in the streets!
There is some justification for the sharing of expenses between the parents no matter what the parenting percentage might be. The fact is that two households is expensive and if the child is living in both homes any reasonable amount of time, the parent should be responsible enough to provide appropriate living quarters for the child(ren). The concern I have is that while there's a recognised compensation for the additional costs of living to the mother in this case, there is no recognition of the efforts and demands of the children coming to live with Dad.
Recent Announcement from the Government of Ontario: New laws ensure tougher enforcement, claim improved fairness (PDF).
FRO's Backrounder on the new Enforcment Act: Get the FRO's perspective on their new powers (PDF).
These updates to the law are a great idea. As I have said before and will always argue for, the enforcement of reasonable child support is essential when the father is neglecting the responsibility. What the "system" must realize is that not all fathers that are in arrears are Deadbeats. They may simply be broke. The very idea that I can work very hard to become or remain gainfully employed, and the judge - essentially a blind man with a gavel, is able to judge me with any accuracy is a joke.
This joke is told over and over. Daily it seems. The fallout is people, fathers, who care that are destroyed by the burdens of the system.