Parents dealing with uncooperative ex-spouses in Arizona child support cases may want to take note of a Milwaukee County, Wis., case. Social media is becoming an option in helping in such cases, particularly when parents comment about their income or other related issues in the public setting of social media sites like Facebook. In the Wisconsin case, a father who had paid a total of less than $200 in child support during his 3-year-old son’s life discussed his income on the social media site. As a result, he is contending with felony charges.
In another situation, a parent who had made only a single child support payment of $100 had a Facebook page displaying him in possession of stacks of money. In another instance, a parent spent funds on a music studio when support was owed. In both cases, charges have been filed. An official explained that such individuals may believe that nobody really cares about their social media postings.
For the parents who are caring for children without being provided with the support payments that are due, medical issues and other unexpected expenses can be difficult. Daily living may be impacted by a lack of monetary support as well. A custodial parent may notice social media posts displaying a lifestyle that indicates more support could be provided, and a lawyer may be helpful in assembling such information and supporting details to present in court.
Investigating social media accounts may be challenging if privacy protections are in place, making it helpful to work with a lawyer who can address these concerns through the proper legal channels. It may be helpful to research a non-custodial parent’s social media pages prior to the finalization of support orders to limit the potential for a return to court. However, a parent may want to continue to monitor such accounts if payments of child support suddenly cease or decrease.
Source: Opposing Views, “Fathers Face Charges For Avoiding Child Support, Bragging About Money On Facebook “, Sarah Fruchtnicht, July 17, 2014