System sets up a de facto debtor's prison
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CHILDREN DESERVE fair child support. But I was outraged when I read, in "Amid layoffs, child support pacts fraying," about the man who fell $23,000 behind in what he owed, including fees to his ex-wife's attorney, and was handcuffed and put in jail for 30 days. What kind of unrealistic judge would do this, when this poor father had a modification petition pending? How does jailing a father who tries to play by the rules benefit the children? The judge needs a reality check.
Keith Moak
Miami
AS A family law attorney for two decades, I know very well that it takes months to get a hearing to modify child support, and that it is very difficult to get support recalculated. Further, the "new partner," if there is one, and the income added to a custodial household is rarely considered. Much child support seems to be a form of thinly disguised "household support" rather than child support at all.
Massachusetts' child support orders are among the highest in the nation. If indeed a large percentage of the men in lockup are in de facto debtor's prison, it is hard to understand how this helps children.
Deborah Sirotkin Butler
Arlington
