Former U.S. Rep files to Stop Paying Child Support

 Posted on April 28, 2013 in Family Law

According to a recent article, former United States representative Joe Walsh has filed papers in attempts to end his duty to pay $2,134 per month in child support.

Tea Party Republican Walsh is currently unemployed. He wants to “modify” his previous child support agreement, so that he will only pay 20 percent of his current salary. Walsh is behind on payments as of now; the payments were determined under a previous court order.

According to a court filing, Walsh “is without sufficient income or assets with which to continue to pay his support obligation.” The filing asks to terminate Walsh’s current child support obligation.

Jack Coladarci, an attorney for Walsh’s ex-wife, stated “this is the first communication we’ve received from the congressman; she had no information prior to receiving this filing the mail that he was going to seek…he did not pay January and he has not paid February support…you still have to keep paying until the judge says you can stop.”

“Joe’s employment has been terminated through no voluntary act of his own and he is without sufficient income or assets with which to continue to pay his support obligation. Due to a substantial change in circumstances, Joe requests that his child support obligation be terminated based on his present income and circumstances,” Walsh’s court filing states.

One of Walsh’s lawyers commented that the word “terminate” was misleading and that the word “modify” would be more precise. The end of Walsh’s filing asks the court to “modify Joe’s child support obligation to a sum equal to 20 percent of his net income until the minor child graduates from high school in 2013.”

According to congressman Walsh, the filing was routine and that he does intend to continue making his child support payments. He insisted he wasn’t a “deadbeat dad” during his failed re-election campaign last year.

If you are having issues with your current child support circumstances, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Illinois attorney to assist you.