My son’s dad stopped paying child support out of the blue

r/

Okay so first time posting here but needing to hear some opinions or maybe someone has been thru a similar situation. My kid’s dad has been paying informal support for about 9 months. He has severe anger issues that have amplified now that I’m in a new relationship. Recently I no longer felt safe exchanging our kid unless it was at a neutral location. This floored him (which I have been advised neutral locations are pretty typical in high tension cases) anyways long story short he refused and said if I want That then take him to court. This was probably the 10th time he has said “take me to court” or “I’m gonna take you to court and let a judge decide”. Anyways finally I saved enough money to take him to court for a formal agreement. He only sees our son maybeeee 2-4 times a month which is completely his choice. He was served back in March and has continued our informal agreement until suddenly he stopped last week. I’m wondering if this is something his lawyer advised? Surely not? I sent an email to my lawyer today because I wanted To be sure he wasn’t paying, giving him the benefit of the doubt that maybe he somehow missed last week on accident. But two weeks in a row seems purposeful and possibly a retaliation. I will be fine financially in the meantime but it feels hurtful that he’s willing to stop paying not realizing this is for his son? 90% of it goes to childcare. My point of all this I guess is would there be any logical reason a lawyer would advise to stop payment? Everything I’m reading is this is not a good look.
Location: Indiana

Comments

  1. Rich_Cause5589 Avatar

    Without a court approved child support order in place, he is not legally obligated to pay you anything. I’m not sure a lawyer would specifically tell him to stop paying, it’s definitely possible, but a lawyer would probably tell him he has no legal obligation to pay.

  2. monkeyman80 Avatar

    There’s a reason he’s saying take him to court, that’s where everything is finalized.

    Right now you’re voluntarily agreeing to things. Either sides can say yes or no. Think if I owe you $1 or $50, would you wait until you’re clear what you owe?