Father sentenced to 6 months in jail for paying too much child support

But his ex-wife must have known that the child support agreement was modified. How can a court know that Clifford Hall was "overpaying" and "over-visiting" his son?

I often notice that ex-partners conspire with child protective agencies and the courts in order to get back at the other parent. It doesn't matter whether the child suffers, it's a psychopathic ploy IMO.

As I have said many times, you not find justice in a crooked court system. The game is rigged.

Animanarchy

The decisions by the judge are retarded.

Why...

Why isnt this on front page news instead of all the balony they put there? I agree with Mariama. This story is so outlandish it is difficult to believe.
I remember being told by a para-legal in regards to divorces and child support and that stuff that "it's a woman's world and men breath in it".

The ex wife started this crap...

Why would she do this to someone who is being a good father???
It sounds like they are hiding some nefarious intentions by her and her lawyer.

This is so stupid. You'd think the winch.would be happy getting a extra $3,000 and him spending to much time is ridiculous!!!! Judge and her should be happy. And if things like that change both parties should have to sign to acknowledge the changes so ignorant stuff like this doesn't happen. I feel bad for him. Alot of dad's/moms don't do crap, but they still out running the streets. This is so wrong. I feel bad for him. The mom should be charged to then for excepting the money!

What a crock of crap

I am still scratching my head wondering where the judge attended law school. This is one of the most ridiculous decisions I have ever heard of taking place within the judicial system. As for the mother of the child she really needs to bend over and have her a _ _ kicked.

Here is something about the Judge:

[Link]

Say WHAT?!

Besides the fact he should have been notified about the changes in his agreement, isn't it obvious the ex is getting away with more than her attorney fees getting paid for? She should have to pay back that $3,000!
If it's not the ex's fault this happened, she should do the right thing. He's been doing the right thing (according to the info we're seeing) for his kid. Which is a lot more than we can say about a lot of parents out there!

wow!

My husband made a good point. So when does he get his $3000 back? It is impossible for me to believe this is the whole story. I just don't see how this could happen.

What tha What!!!!!!

Instead of putting a man in jail for paying his child support, even if he did over pay. How about putting tha men in jail that's on child support and don't pay anything.

Where is the logic in this crap?

And my ex was in contempt twice for not showing up for our child support hearings and he got nothing. Not even a slap on the wrist or a fine. And this man gets 6 months in jail for doing the right thing...and may I add that not enough fathers do. It's not his fault. I would give anything for my sons father to step up and be half the dad this man is being.

Sack Judge Lisa Millard!!!

There are wastes of space out there who do nothing for their children, and this poor guy does more than expected and gets put away. Not exactly a good message to he sending out!
She has not made the world a better place, i wonder what else she has mis-judged ?? how many other lives has she ruined????
I along with my friends are disgusted!!!!!

ABSURD!

This judge needs to be held in contempt for making such a ridiculous ruling! Who does that????? There are so many men and women who aren't paying a dime towards child support or even taking the time to spend quality time with there children, and this so-called fair judge have this man locked up for paying too much money and spending too much time with his child......."ARREST THE JUDGE!"

wtf

I been looking 4 my son at least 8 years and he is 8 going on 9 and pay child support .the child support ppl kept on telling there is no way they can help. now there a father who sees his son on a regular basis and paying his child support ahead of time and he goes 2 jail for it just because some dumb b?!@# and a f#$% judge did behid his back. not only he should get out of jail up get paid for being in there but also get his son in his custody

Corrupt justice

As far as I'm concerned, fathers like him should be commended not sentenced. The court system should butt its nose OUT of families' lives. It is NOT in the best interest of the child to have the courts say what can/cannot happen. For mothers like this one, she should be sterilized and never have any more children. Women like her should be taught a very good lesson about what it means to actually be part of a family. I raised my child with no child support (I wanted it that way). It can be done people. STOP trying to live off of other peoples money and get off your azz and work for it yourself. NO MONEY should ever exchange hands when it comes to children. If they need clothes, food...school supplies etc seek help from other parent and get those specific items. DON'T ask for money. Too many mothers who get child support NEVER use that money on their children. It usually goes to drugs, booze, gambling habits, or stuff for themselves. You think I'm, wrong on this point? Check out all those children who come from homes where daddy was kicked out because mama can't keep her panties on. Many of those kids are wearing hand-me-down clothing, and eat at their friends house..why? Because mama could not afford groceries. If the mother wants custody, she should be SOLELY FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE for the care/welfare of the child/ren as far as I'm concerned. Too many father's (and women too) are getting screwed over by vicious, deceiving, conning greedy women who want the men to pay for the "llifestyles". Once money exchanges hands in regards to children, they are NO LONGER children, but commodities. Its becomes no different than trading in the stock market. Many people will not like my comment, but its reality folks, get used to it. The system will only get worse from here on out.

Shameful

This is what happens when you have a bitter person and when we let the judicial system decide get all involved whats in the best interest of our children and families. Point blank period. Its a shame a disgrace and simply pathetic that they have put a cap on the amount of time and money you spend on your children! Now if this man wasnt doing nothing for his child at all or too little he is a deadbeat but when he goes above and beyond what he is ordered he gets jailtime!!! SMH! Time for us to wake up.

Judge belongs off the bench and in jail herself.

Can Judge Millard come to philly

My kids deadbeat dad hasnt paid a dime in over 11 years even works under the table so he cant be found to pay.... the Judges in Philadelphia have given him a free pass for almost 12 yrs simply because every time I bring him to child support they let him use tge same excuse... he dont have a job.... they offered him a program to find a job n he refuses n they accept that. Theres not even an order in affect n tbey wont put one in affect untill he has a job... i would have to hire a private investigator to find where he wotks n provide info to the court in order for them to make him pay.... in the long run 3 little boys turn into 3 men with lots of questions that their father will have to answer. Yes we struggle.... hard!! But i CANT MAKE HIM CARE OR HELP... so i do what I have to do to take care of them untill they can take care of themselves. To this babys mama... i just gotta say.... BITCH ARE U CRAZY?!???!!!! You should be pimp smacked for putting this DAD in jail. Being bitter gets u no where... n u need to explain to ur son where his Daddy is... Jerk off

Complete BS

This judge is nothing short of being a complete moron and a real POS. Lisa Millard, your nothing but a complete douchebag. If this man was not paying the child support or seeing the kid, you'd probably do nothing at all. Talk about a whackjob.

The judge and ex~wife need some sence beat into them. Dam most men you can't get to pay child support much less spend time with the kids. I would give anything for my kids to have a father like that.

Outraged and Enraged!

The judge should be investigated punished and disrobed. Obviously she is not impartial and i would venture to say either racist or sexiest. How can any parent give to much or spend to much time with their child. We see countless cases of young men being raised without their father or any father figure and it's effect. Was she angered by the man taking responsibility as he should or the Black man taking responsibility? What can we the people do to help this man and others who child's mother is allowed to use the system and their children as a weapon. these ignorant women who are so vindictive they don't see and/or don't care that they are really hurting the kids they claim to love.

There's always too sides to every story: here's the other side! [Link]

Men get the short end of the stick

Men get the short end of the stick all the time. I know by me writing that, there will be alot of women screaming out there. Before you write me nasty replies, listen why I say that. Although I know there are many dead beat dads out there I know there are many many dads that vaery good care of their children and get screwed over by their ex-wives or girlfriends. I spent many years going to court with my step son and witnessed this first hand. Men just don't have any rights unless women are found nfit to take care of their children. This poor guy does the right thing and look what happened to him, she screwed him anyway, who suffers, the poor child. God Bless this man and his child.

The just in:

Judge Lisa Millards hpuse has burned to the ground.

when judges become tyrants

This woman clearly has bad judgement.
Who judges the judge?
Tyrants like these should be recalled from office.

SNOPES

[Link]

corrupt judges

Are throughout the U.S.S.A.'s criminal injustice system. they have set themselves above everyone and treat us all as cattle. It is way past the time to stand up to the injustice in this cuntry. for anyone who wishes to look into taking action against these criminals, here are a couple of links for you! www.caught.net and www.justice-denied.net Also, Ron Branson runs a website called www.jail4judges.org

Many family courts are corrupt

That's sad and so injustice. I pray that this gentleman ruling gets overturned. Many family courts are not helping and your considered just another statistic. Leaves people without the ability for proper representation due to all the expenses for caring for ones child/children. I deal with injustice also and I am the permanent sole custodial parent. Here I have never been able to get support and the courts don't enforce the current support. There is an arrears of $34,000 they just retroactively took off $4,000 off because the non custodial parent choose to commit a crime ending up in prison. Which the law statue MCL 552.603 states child support is not suppose to go retroactive. The non custodial parent already got 8 years of not having to paying support due to be in prison that time also. Children are now teens with an arrears this high just from all the years that past from his last prison term. In Michigan child support obligation ends when the non custodial parent goes to prison. Congratulations in Michigan you get rewarded for committing a crime by going to prison and child support stopping. Michigan friend of the Court also dropped a bench warrant (for contempt for failure to pay child support for the child support) when the law enforcement notified them that they had the non custodial parent in jail. What was the purpose of them issuing a bench warrant if they weren't going to enforce it? This is how the courts work they always punish the ones that do something for their kids but never doing anything but a slap on the hand for the ones that don't even do anything.

This is Crazy!

I do not see how this judge is still on the bench. A man is trying to do his best for his son, sending the money he needs for things and visiting with him so he has a strong father in his life and he gets sent to jail???? What has gone wrong with our nation that this could occur>

This is BS

This man deserves a metal in my eyes! Most fathers don't even want to see their kids or pay child support. And here this man over pays and over sees his child and gets jail time! That is beyond messed up! What is this world coming too! This is so unjust he should be able to get this conviction over turned! Somebody needs to stand up for this man! He is being treated like a criminal when in fact he is a devoted loving father who wants all the best for his son! May God be with you Mr. Hall you and your son will be in our prayers

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE???

I think it is a very sad day that a father who has been and I am Saying BEEN paying his child support and even visiting his son. Then the court does this too him cause he over paid and had too many visits with his son. Ok,WHERE IS THE PAPERS HE WAS SUPPOSED TO OF GOTTEN FROM THE COURTS? Cause if he had the modified child support and how many times he can visit his son... He wouldn't be serving unjustified sentence for something that is just showing other fathers that they should just be careful and make sure you don't the same cause you will land in jail and never see your child..
I BELIEVE THIS MAN'S EX-WIFE GOTTEN A LETTER FROM THE COURT AND IT STATED THAT SHE WILL NOT BE GETTING ANYMORE CHILD SUPPORT CAUSE SHE WAS OVERPAID. AND SO WHAT DOES SHE DO TAKE HIM TO COURT FOR SEEING HIS CHILD TOO MANY TIMES... I DISLIKE SPITEFUL WOMAN LIKE THIS..
I hope and pray this man has an attorney to fight this verdict from of all things a female judge who sentenced this poor man for nothing but being a wonderful,caring and loving father..
NOW ABOUT THIS HIM BEING ORDERED TO PAY HER ATTORNEY FEES...... NO she should use the over paid child support of her attorney fees and another thing she should be paying back the overpaid child support.. heck if it was anyone else they would be paying it back.
I pray for this man and his son. This is sitting a bad example for other father's who pay child support

...

I absolutely cannot understand why in the world they would do that. That ''paying more than what you are supposed to'' can get you to jail is beyond absurdity (same for visiting his son ''more than he should have''). Pathocracy at its best.

This is total crap!!

This man should be given a medal, he's a role model to dads everywhere. Judicial misconduct at its finest, changing agreements without the dad present.. The judge should be thrown off the bench and punished. I hope he finds a really good lawyer and wipes the floor with her. It's supposed to be agreed upon by BOTH parents. His ex wife is just as guilty as the judge, they're pathetic for doing this..In the end, only the child suffers. He is actually doing his part, and beyond as a parent, and this ass of a judge low balls him like that?

This can not be allowed to Stand

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

It is hard to believe this is true, yet I fear it is.

Misleading - False Facts Everywhere

This story is completely misleading of what really happened in this case. A court agreement specifying child support and visitation terms was modified, resulting in him having to pay more $ each month in child support. He claims he didn't know about this change, so he never increased the amount he was paying each month. So he was actually delinquent in his child support, which is why the mom brought him to court. In order not to go to jail, he paid the $3K he owed AND agreed to pay the mom back $3K for attorney fees. There were several court hearings that occurred and during one of those hearings he walked out in the middle. The judge also didn't really seem to buy that he wasn't aware of the increased amount he was supposed to be paying, so based on that and on the fact that he walked out, the judge determined that he was still in contempt and ordered the jail time. So regardless of whether someone believes the judge should have ordered the contempt charge, he never overpaid child support (he only ever paid what he actually owed) and he definitely wasn't sentenced to jail for "overpayment of child support."

amanda25

So what you are saying Amanda25 that the story is completely fabricated, False. There is no truth to it. So who came up with the article then?? Just asking.

This guy needs support..

Send your complaints here [Link]

Let Texas know that Lisa Millard's judgement is ridiculous.

Insane

And yet the reactionary western feminists will tell you with a straight face that misandry does not exist and could never manifest itself in the so called “justice system.” Is this not further proof that the “justice system” in this country is absolutely unjust and easily used as a tool of oppression and downright cruelty? Every day, people are processed into this system to have their lives destroyed while we are propagandized with the notion that this system represents some kind of foundation of morality. Like the comment after the article said, try psychopathic “morality”

True Justice

True Justice would be to sentence the Judge to 180 days.

This HAS to be a joke...

IF he overpaid, why isn't the mother in jail for cashing and accepting the payments?
Also, in my opinion, no parent can spend too much time with their child.
IF this is true...
Shame on the mom.
and more than that, Shame on the Judge!

Story Doesn't Add Up

It CLEARLY says in the article he had to pay 3K in BACK child support. Watch the video. Whether the paperwork was modified without him knowing or not, the fact that it was modified (and I personally think somebody told him, but who knows) to a different amount and he OWED money, YES that is legal ground to be put it jail. Now whether his ex-wife was being sneaky and didn't tell him or what (not her responsibility btw) I still believe he would have known. Don't they send you letters or call you or call your job or something? He knew. There was nothing unfair about that. It just seems unfair because these websites keep saying he was paying to much, when IN THE NEWS CLIP it clearly says he paid that 3K in BACK child support. He ALREADY owed that money. In order for him to OWE 3K for ONE little boy he had to ALREADY BE missing payments. UNLESS his payments were 1200 every 2 weeks. Or 3K for one month. He was ALREADY in the hole and NOT because he ain't know what the payments were because they mail you a letter and notify your employer (Verified it online). So HE knew, he just wasn't paying it, got caught up and now he feel some type of way cause he's suffering the consequences. Not only that but I hear men all the time griping about how they got a letter saying they gotta pay this amount and that amount in child support. "I didn't know." Is not a good enough excuse for not knowing in this case, they judge is gonna say, and PROBABLY did say, you were notified, we HAVE to notify you. He knew what it was. He got a letter. He was notified. Might as well take them 180 days like a man. Not opening the letter is not an excuse, not answering the call is not an excuse. So if he didn't read the letter or answer the call it's still his fault because he SHOULD have. He did not overpay. You can't overpay -3000 with 3000..it's just catching you up.
Or maybe he just wasn't paying enough. Either way, I'd bet money he was notified of the modified payment by a court system of some kind via snail mail. The ONLY way this story would make sense is if they could look it up in the system somewhere VERIFYING that nobody from the courts contacted him. I doubt that'll happen though because where I'm from, the letters and updates are automatic. So I still think he was notified.

two

There's two sides to every story. This is bullshit.

Well...

Even with the added details, it seems to me he still got screwed. If he was unaware, and if the wife and/or her attorney were screwing him over and then he's held in contempt, well... I'd pay up and then walk out of the courtroom, too!

Harris County "Family" Courts

This is very typical crazy behavior for Harris County "Family" judges.... Judge Bonnie Helums that was in the 243rd Dist Court, not only does stuff like this, but plays favorites to her friend attorneys that she allows to do whatever they want in the court orders...including not ever speaking to the other parent, to do ANY fact finding whatsoever! As long as you as a buddy of hers... She not only shows favortism to the friends, but to the female attorneys especially.
I personally have been a victim of this horrid Harris County system, that the only ones that profit is the attorneys...not the children. Corruption is an understatement for that entire building.

Father Sentenced

U N B E L I E V A B L E !!!

Story is false!

This story is very biased and leads the reader to incorrectly believe that Mr Hall was jailed because he paid too much child support. That IS NOT the case. The child support agreement was modified to increase the child support. Mr Hall contends that he did not know about the increase, yet both he and his employer were notified via certified mail. He continued to pay the previously agreed upon amount, ignoring the increase... UNTIL he was threatened with jail time for not paying the new amount. He made a lump sum payment to the court at the last minute to attempt to avoid jail time, but the judge found him in contempt of court for basically waiting until the very last second to pay. He did not overpay, he paid exactly what the new agreement ordered and he did it at the very last second in an attempt to be defiant. He disagreed with the increase in child support and thought he would be cute by waiting to the last minute to pay the increase. The judge did not think it was cute at all and jailed him for contempt.

The reason mainstream media has not aired this is because the guy is nothing more than a publicity seeker who manipulated the facts of the story to try and get his 15 minutes of fame. The interviews that he did do were not substantiated by any proof or evidence, and he comes across as smug and defiant. The Fox affiliate that originally ran the story, ran a retraction/update with the full story just 2 days later.

I agree with some comments: even though it was a question of some back-payments the sentencing is still ludicrous. Six months in jail, for what exactly? For being held in contempt? I think we should hold this judge in contempt. These family judges can do as they please. The power that they hold over families is enormous. I have heard so many sad stories from parents, psychologists and solicitors which make your hair turn grey in an instant.
Who knows, maybe this judge receives a nice bonus for her sentencing, just like that family judge who sent down I don't know how many kids to institutions, for which he was paid a handsome sum.

I think the presence of these family courts are a sign that the police has always existed for some families, only now more and more families are being caught in their traps.

Ex-Wife should be in Jail

The ex-wife is the one who made the changes to the agreement not the ex husband. She knew she was taking the money without it being due and allowing her son to see his father too much. She is the one who should be pulling the time not the husband. He did nothing wrong. He wasn't notified by the ex wife nor the courts that the terms had changed. Why punish him? Now he is gonna be behind in child support payments again when he gets out of jail plus the time lost from spending time with his son. Here is a man that is taking responsibility for his child & the courts punish him. It also cost the taxpayers money to house him for 6 months. This is sooooo wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did the court have proof

He told the court he wasn't notified of the changes in the agreement. The court couldn't prove he got notified. If they can't prove he was notified, then how can there be a ruling, why would it go to court in the first place? When he came to court, he was paid up, because as soon as he found out that the agreement had changed, he paid up. If the court, or his ex wife wanted him notified and retain proof he was, you know there is such a thing as CERTIFIED MAIL, where you get a returned receipt verifying with HIS signature he got it. This is more about the ex's lawyer making a buck, her being easily manipulated and naive. She just got screwed out of at least 6 months of child support and even more, because he will more than likely lose his job, effectively making it longer than 6 months and denying her child to see his father. The lawyer and the judge should be disbarred.

Mr Hall was not a dead beat.

And it was obvious he wasn't. So his history of paying, lends more creditability that he WASN'T notified of the changes. There was nothing in his history of paying support, that suggest he ever had a problem with paying. But he according to the judge, waited until the last minute to pay as a form of being defiant? No, it sounds like the judge brought her own anger either from her own personal experience and labeled Mr. Hall with that broad brush. Six months because he waited until the last minute? Even if he had been notified, paying at the last minute, wouldn't be a violation for obvious reason. it would be the LAST MINUTE and that implies, it was paid within a set time frame.

The ex wife's lawyer is the problem

He didn't notify Mr Hall. How do i know he didn't, because IF Mr. Hall had been notified, so would his Employer because they ALREADY have papers they are bound to enforce from the first agreement. All needed was an update and it would be their responsibility as dictated by the court to take it out of Mr. Hall's check. This lawyer is aware Mr Hall has a job and is not a dead beat dad, so unlike dead beats and has demonstrated he has no problem paying up. So the ex's lawyer sees bank in Mr. Hall. Something he wouldn't have with a dead beat. So he manipulates the ex to bring, or drag Mr. Hall to court of flimsy mess like this. It doesn't matter to him, he gets paid either way and so does the court. But who doesn't get paid at least for 6 months, the ex and the child. And they probably want get paid for a longer period than that, because Mr. Hall more likely want have a job when he gets out. Unless you think employers will keep him on the payroll for 6 month without him being there.

Blame the court system

All the wrong people are being penalized in this case (the father AND the child). The only person that should be sitting behind bars is the mother for accepting the overpayments and allowing the extra visits. If the father was unaware of the modifications of the custody agreement, I gaurentee the mother knew all about it. Therefore how come charges are not being brought against the true criminal in this story. This man was simply doing what "society" has said for years fathers should be doing. How dare our court system then throw a person in jail for this!! How dare the Ex-wife pursue this case and allow this MAN to go to jail for providing and loving her child. I have 3 children with diffrent fathers, out of those 3 men 1 of them actuall takes care of his child. What i wouldnt have gived to have had children with a man that is as honorable as this man. There should be charges brought against the mother!! they got the wrong person behind bars tonight!

blame the ex wife!

exactly

ONLY IN AMERICA!!!

SO, A FATHER IS BEING PUNISHED FOR TRYING TO BE REALLY GOOD FATHER?!?!?! ONLY IN AMERICA!!!!

What about this precious child!

This is an extremely selfish Mother that is doing everything she can to hurt this Father when the person she is really hurting is this innocent child. Also, in 2 years this child should be old enough to say who he wants to live with and hopefully it will be his Father. I have seen divorced parents before and how their children would hurt because of their parents actions and how some women would treat the men. When my children's Father and I divorced, we loved our children enough to put them and their needs first. The child support was set and so were the visitations. He always paid on time and always made sure that the children had everything they needed even if it meant that he had to pay out extra money. He could get the children anytime that he wanted to regardless of what that piece of paper said, after all they were his children too, just as he was their Dad. We would take turns claiming the children on tax returns as I felt that he deserved that, 2 of our children are grown now and our youngest is in College. He no longer pays child support just puts the money towards helping our child get thru College. Our child earned a scholarship but, it doesn't pay everything so, I pay half of the College fees that are not covered and he claims our child on his taxes which I agree to. For years we have celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas and each Family members birthday together as a Family. We have always discussed big decisions concerning our children together as parents and respected each others decision. Our child in College plays College Sports, we go to all of these games together as we know how important it is for our Child to see both of his parents at all of his games supporting him, not to mention how much we enjoy watching him do what he loves best. Our children have grown up to be successful and caring adults and they love each other so very much and are always letting each other know that. We are very proud of them. We chose to do what was right for our children. Divorced parents need to remember something very important, these children didn't ask to come into this world, just because the parents couldn't get along doesn't mean that the children should be punished. These children need to be raised with love, if you have to put your pride on the back burner to make this happen then that is what you should do. They should always come first! I do have to say, they have the Best Father ever!

this man needs to be set free

We need to speak up for this innocent man I don't see how this judge could get away with this here you have a man doing the right thing by taking care of his child which now a days you don't get many fathers that will step up and do the right thing and take care of there children he does more than take care of his child by making his child support payments he actually pays three thousand more than he is required by law to pay he also spends time with his son so his son knows who his father is such is something else you don't see often anymore most kids out there today don't know who there fathers are and this man gets sentenced six months in jail for it that's not right we need to post this story on any media or social network we have access to and let's try to free this man we being the people of the united states have rights and this mans rights have obviously been violated by our justice system none the less we need to stand up for this man as well as ourselves

should a father and son suffer

The judge obviously needs to step down and resign because she is making the court system look really ridiculous. The whole matter is totally bogus and should be thrown out of court. Mr. Hall was not informed about any changes in the terms of the agreement and if he overpaid, refund him the money. Mr. Hall is obviously trying to do right by his son and his ex wife is just being a selfish, hateful, vindictive, bitch(excuse me, just saying) with nothing better to do then waste everyone's time and money. She should also pay her own lawyer fees because she is the one creating this whole entire mess that makes no sense at all. Someone with a greater authority needs to stand up and correct this wrongful sentence and make it right. The only one that suffers is their son. The ex wife obviously doesn't care about anyone but herself and being destructive towards what's left of the family circle between father and son.

Judge should be removed from bench!

It made me sick to read this article. I went though an ugly divorce, custody and support for over 10 years! I would love to know what case law this judge referanced to make this decision?? I do not believe there is ANY!. I am so outraged on this I can't even think straight. For once you read about a father/ real DAD that cares enough about his son to pay support and spend as much time with his child as he can. First the mother must have allowed the father to spend the time with his son or she would have contacted the police and state the father has taken him or something. I looked and could NOT find ANY case law that states a father could not over pay support, even if he was just getting caught up on back support. I can not wrap my head around a judge that would do such a thing!!! Does this judge have issues with men?? NOT have a brain??? I would love to ask her a few question on why. This judge is now the target of the most stupid judges in the world let along people just being outraged. So many woman now play games when it comes to custody and support. I might be a mother but I also see women playing games with men because they know the courts lean towards keeping the children with the mothers and many know their kids are their meal tickets. I see so many women spending money on clothes for themselves, their nails, cell phones going out partying with their friends, some use the money on drugs... and the fathers look bad. In these cases when the father is doing the right thing why would anyone want to put them in jail to loose a good job and be unable to pay support in the future?? What is the game plan here??? There are so many dead beat dads out there I just can't believe this is happening to a man that is truly a father and doing the right thing. I hope this father has a great attorney and they make this front page news. I also hope they sue this judge and have her removed from the bench. To this father just keep up doing the right thing and your child will love you for it and you will be close. If the mother is going along with the judge on this she better be prepared for the fall out when the child is older!! It will happen!!! The child will learn to not like his mother, hold this against her.... If she cares about her son she better step up and do the right thing!!!!

It goes both ways...

I think the judge overstepped her bounds with this one. But I think that people who assume it only affects the father need to come into the 21st century. If everything he states is true, this man got a raw deal for taking care of his son. In this instance, the ex wife played him, but he also should have gotten mail from the court.

For anyone to state that the father should not have to pay his due or have it reduced, they are crazy. A judge takes into account ALL costs in raising a child. A good judge will not over burden a parent to pay so much child support that they cannot survive. It is up to the parent to remember what bills they have and to live within their budget. They know what their child support is and when they choose to get married, the other person needs to realize that it is a bill that will get paid off when the child is out of school. If the tables were turned, I am sure that the custodial parent would fight for the same support that they are paying out now.

I went thru a divorce years ago when my son was 2. My ex REFUSED to pay $12.50 a week (yes a week), total FIFTY Dollars a month... When I remarried, my husband wanted to adopt. We took my ex to court and his excuse for not paying child support was that my current husband provided for him just fine.... Well, we asked for him to give up custody and he refused. He kept telling the judge that it was HIS son... Convenient... His son for the name but not for paying support. And the judge said that...

My daughter's ex told the judge the same thing. The difference was that instead of a spouse providing, Grandma was... The judge stated that GRANDMA did not make the baby and although I provide for them, it is not my place. It is the parent's responsibility to provide for their child.

In both instances, it required several visits in court. For my son, his dad was deemed unfit and his rights were terminated. The state had a clause that said if you fail to pay your support for 6 mos, you have abandoned your child. That worked in my favor. After 5 years in court, his rights were terminated and my husband adopted him... For my daughter, that rule is not available where we currently live. But after a few stints in jail and the loss of his license for failure to pay, his wages are garnished and he keeps his payments on track. Although he rarely calls or visits my grandson. His mom keeps the lines open so that my grandson does not have a bad view of his dad. And my daughter has her own life.

I NEVER received child support and watching my daughter go thru her struggles, I must state to those who have made statements on here that a mother can work.... Yes, they can, but usually it is the MOM who takes off when the child is sick, goes to all the school recitals, sports practices and doctors appts. When mom does work, mom must pay for a sitter... Guess what, that fee gets factored into the father's child support and his support gets raised. Same goes for summer camp, dentist bills, etc...

I have seen a few women who have shirked their duties as a mom and have been ordered to pay child support and refuse to do that too... So as stated, it goes both ways...

And if you are a step -parent, you need to learn that your spouse had other responsibilities before you married. Quit complaining. Reduce your what you are spending. Those kids and yours come before your needs... When they are grown and out of the house, then you can spend your money the way you always dreamed...

Just a little info...

Blown Away!

When I read this story I have to say I couldn't believe what I was seeing! I myself am a single mother and I don't get a dime in support because my ex husband is incarcerated and has been since 2010. I have never heard of a lawthat prohibits the non custodial parent from extra visitation.. I would be tickled to death if my kids father asked to see our kids more often , being he was a good father and responsible.. For extra visitation to be possible, wouldn't both parents have to be in agreement on it? The answer to that is YES! So if he's in contempt then so is she! Something really suspicious is going on here without a doubt.. Just say he was behind on support, the mother could plead to the judge that he not be jailed. I've seen many times where the judge would grant that request due to many different circumstances... If it were me, I would get on my knees and beg for my children's father not be jailed if he was a good father to my children... My kids don't deserve to be punished and that's exactly what it would be! Punishment to the kids. This woman's deceitful act will come back to haunt her eventually and it will be well deserved! Karma Baby!!!!!!!!

law is confused

The wife and her lawyer is a sad and horrible display of being an adult... i can understand the frustration anx disappointment from the courts...i too was railroaded into a $816.00 permonth child support in NC for my daughter was based upon a previous income of $41k and did not reflect a pay cut and no OT of present..the judge did not want to hear my pleases...told me i need to take care of my kid ...i eeven provided reciepts to show bi-weekly deposits that i could afford. Into the mothers account..i was upset and ended up in jail for voicing my frustration and a misdemeanor record...i had to get a lawyer to voice my cocefns to have it lowered to $565 per month...and my bottom line is $35k pdr year...judges and DSS do.t care... just be good to the kid in the end...nothing good will come out of their willingness to punish someone...i also pay for my daughters insurance as well...cant get a modification to save my life

The rest of the story?

It is theoretically possible that Mr. Hall didn't have notice of the increase in child support - but unfortunately, that's likely to have been his own fault. Child support orders require both parents to notify the court of any changes in their residence/mailing addresses. If he moved & didn't tell the court, oh well. As far as certified mail is concerned, a lot of people with what we may generously term "legal issues" do not go to the post office to pick up that mail b/c they know darn well it's not going to be good news & if they sign for it, that will prove that they did in fact receive the notice they later tell the court (or whomever) they never got.

In general, child support laws call for a jail sentence if the payor is in arrears by $5,000 or 90 days. The article doesn't indicate what the monthly support payment was, so it's hard to say how far behind Mr. Hall had fallen by the time he got to court on this petition. Several posters have apparently researched this case, & it appears that his ex had to drag him to court several times for failure to pay, which may explain why the money was coming out of his paycheck automatically. Then again, it may be that he simply gave his employer a copy of the original support order & asked the employer to deduct that amount from his paycheck, & did nothing about past arrears or the most recent increase. I had numerous cases where the payor got behind & we'd take him (I say "him" although it was sometimes her) to court for the arrears, & the payor would come up with a chunk of the arrears & the judge would let him walk. And 6 months or a year later, we'd be back in court when the payor fell behind AGAIN, & the same thing would happen. Each time, a jail sentence SHOULD have been imposed, but b/c the payor paid at least something, the judge took the "well, if he's not working, she won't get anything" approach & let him walk AGAIN. And b/c attorneys have their own bills to pay, a significant chunk of the back support went to pay attorney's fees. So it appears that Mr. Hall may have been playing this system for several years & the judge finally got fed up with him. But the business about "too much visitation" makes no sense at all. There's simply no such thing. I'm wondering if Mr. Hall was spending additional time with his son & then, when the ex took him to court for the support arrears, he tried to argue that, based on the amount of "custodial time" he'd been spending with the boy, his support should be reduced retroactively to account for that. Of course, there are also judges who are complete jerks, who ignore the law & hand out punitive sentences for no valid legal reason. If that's the situation here, I'm sure Mr. Hall's attorney will be able to get him out of jail pending his appeal. Meanwhile, without reading the entire court record, all of these posts are pure speculation.

My personal opinion

This is total Bull Crap...
How can this woman call herself a mother? most women would be happy that the father not only pays extra child support but proves he wants to be I his sons life by visiting as often as possible, but apparently not this woman apparently she is selfish and heartless and holds resentment because dude don't want her.
People weren't yesterday this is a cry of "I want him back and if I cant have him no one can and that includes our son" what a low down thing to do and even if she don't want him HELLO WOMAN YOUR SON NEEDS HIS FATHER!! yes I hope you read this you cold hearted sorry excuse for a woman, hurting your son for your own personal gain...you don't have to have a relationship with the father as in your with him but you do however have to have a relationship with the father because of the child you decided to have TOGETHER.. quit thinking about yourself cause that s what your doing, your all butt hurt for whatever reason and you are being ignorant and stupid and not thinking of your son.
I am pissed at you for being this stupid...like I said most woman would give anything to have a man like the one your having put in jail....most women with half a brain or even a heart would shut up and take the money and be even more grateful that daddy is there more then told by the judge so that hey maybe you can have a girls day or alone time something...god your ungrateful and you make me sick.

The Real Story

New law in Texas sends dad to jail despite up-to-date child support payments

Shocking headlines sent Clifford Hall’s story viral: a father sentenced to six months in jail even after catching up on child support payments.

But Raw Story has learned that a new law may be to blame, and it was the Texas legislature that wanted a case like this to end up with jail time for a dad everyone says is very involved in his child’s life.

Hall, a Houston-area resident, paid nearly $3000 in child support arrearages ahead of a November court date, his attorney Tyesha Elam told Raw Story. The arrearage built up after the court raised his support requirement without notifying his employer, leading to erratic deductions from his paycheck, she said. Opposing counsel demanded a $3500 payment of court fees and attorney’s fees, which she advised him not to pay as excessive, she said. After a contentious court hearing in which Hall nervously walked out of the room twice, he was sentenced to six months for contempt, for missing the payments he had just covered.

The original story by Houston’s Fox affiliate pushes buttons for people concerned about the abuses of the court system. The outrage over a family court story (where the truth is often obscured by competing interests) buried what might be a more important element of the story.

Clifford Hall’s jail sentence is the result of a deliberate act of the Texas legislature, designed to keep deadbeat dads from gaming the system.

That’s not to call Hall a deadbeat dad — far from it. All concerned say that he has been as involved as he could be in the life of his 11-year-old son, given the strained relationship he has with his child’s mother Donna Lane. Hall’s spokesman, Quanell X, a Houston community activist, noted that Hall split from Lane while she was seven months pregnant, so he could marry another woman. The split left the two embittered, he said.

“We have tried mediation numerous times,” Lane (who identifed herself here as Donna Ferguson) told a Houston-area radio station earlier this week. It hasn’t worked. … He has been involved, and I’ve never had a problem with him being involved. We have never been able to communicate. It’s just that bad.”

A call to Hall has not yet been returned.

But she’s also been in court fighting for child support payments continually since the birth of their son, she said. And Hall has been jailed before for failing to pay child support — hence the wage garnishment.

Since 1995, Texas law prohibited judges from finding someone who owes back child support in contempt for nonpayment if the obligator covered the arrearage before the court hearing. That left custodial parents fighting constantly — and expensively — with payment-evading noncustodial parents who avoided legal consequences by delaying court dates for as long as possible only to get current just before a judge could throw them in jail. It often made the entire process of collection an empty victory, given the out-of-pocket legal costs a petitioner might bear while waiting for the court to award legal fees.

The Texas legislature took a dim view of this situation. In June of 2013, legislators repealed the provision preventing a respondent from being jailed if he or she was paid in full at the time of a hearing, in order to give judges the discretion to punish repeat offenders. The vote in both chambers was unanimous.

Elam says Hall’s jailing is a result of this change. “If Mr. Hall can go to jail, you can go to jail, I can go to jail,” she said. “This is what I’m fighting against.” She added that she is crafting an appeal.

But Hall’s trip to the Harris County Jail in a few days appears to be what the legislature intended.

Oh the blind ignorance...

It's clearly obvious that this Ashley person is either the mother taking advantage of the situation or someone with ZERO experience with the US court system. Contradicting decisions are made on a regular basis that land 100% INNOCENT people, USUALLY MEN, in janl or prison. And for what? So the taxpayers can have yet another individual to support that we don't even know!
I know for a fact that one parent or another can be, and regularly are, kept in the dark about changes made to their child support or visitation schedule. Usually caused by human error due to an overloaded and HIGHLY FLAWED "Judicial System" if you can even call it that.
It sounds like "Frustrated Stepmom" gets it and is aware of the injustices that occur on a constant basis.

Ashley816

Thank you for trying to bring light to this. I was extremely angry that this could happen in a court. I know how the media like to hype (i.e. all the reality shows). Unfortunately the court docs. will not open, so I can read it for myself. But thank you for trying. We have too many children suffering for lack of child support (monetarily and emotionally), so I felt it incredulous for this to happen. Thank you, again.

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I know this is old but????

I am wondering why there are soooo many sott readers only interested in this article. Maybe I don't understand the internet well enough but holy s*** balls, I have never seen such a response from so many names who have never written again. Is child support just some sort of switch that turns so many people on? This story must be the biggest thing to happen to our world since sliced bread. I am confused.

Please don't do that agin.

So this is an old story

.. humm. Odd that it would pop up again. Anything promoted by FOX-anything is suspect. In fact, if FOX is connected to a story, it's a dead giveaway that it's bogus!

This is inaccurate, do the research

I was all ready to be angry about this until I researched it. Look it up this story is not accurate.

[Link]

Judge's are given too much power.

The courts have way too much authority anymore. They should never be allowed to say or do whatever they feel like doing that day. Moods and gender play a big part of what happens in a courtroom. Judges never look at the big picture. This only hurt the father and his child by him being jailed over a measly $1000 or $3000. I bet this judge in this courtroom is a racist too. This judge wants to change the world by jailing a father who is good to his kid but was late making some of his payments... at least he paid it. The judge just wants to throw her authority and power around. I think they need another 5 people in the courtroom to discuss another person's fate if they are discussing placing someone in jail. We should boycott idiotic judges.
I know a father who was sued for college support. His child has scholarships that will pay all state colleges off in full. The child though decided to go to an expensive private college. The father has to now pay $65,000 in 4 years and that's his portion of it. He only had to pay $80,000 in child support over the course of 19 years. Making matters worse the father's mother has cancer so he can't work because he has to take care of her. The judge took nothing in consideration even looking at his taxes they see he made no money over the years so he's worse off now than he was in all the years before. They even got tax documents verified through the IRS regarding his income loss. Still made no difference to this judge. The judge says since he never married her mother he's making him pay 50% of his daughter's college tuition. Isn't that being racist? They said they would never make married people be required to pay college tuition. This judge is not even making the daughter to at least go to a state college. What kind of crazy thought process is that? His daughter by the way walks away without paying a dime towards her tuition, housing, transportation or food. Judge says the daughter's scholarships pays for her tuition when in reality she would never have gotten those good grades without her father's compliance of paying child support and making life easier on her. If anything he should at least get 1/3 of her scholarships credited to him. I'm in total shock...I'm a woman and I believe men are definitely being taken advantage of. He can't even afford to pay his heating or electric bills it's hard to care of his elderly mother who is 78 years old right now much less if he's in jail. They have him set up to fail no matter how you look at it so when he ends up in jail and who takes care of his mother? She has nobody else there for her. So sad judges have never ever, ever have been fair about anything. They are power trippers!!!!!! Period!!!! All lawyers are liars too. His daughter refuses to have a relationship with her father since she was 12. All she looks at him for is to pay for everything. He even took it to court to get a court order to get her counseling since the mother turned her against him. Nothing helped she calls him names and refuses to see him. He still though has to pay $65,000 towards her college education when she wants nothing to do with him. The daughter even lied on the stand to get the judge on her side, both lawyers knows this. The judge emancipated him from her but that's all that happened out of the courtroom for him. The judge has now destroyed anything this father did have with his daughter. I completely don't understand how if he's emancipated why he is still required to pay 50% of her entire 4 year college tuition? She is still in college for the next 3 years. This makes it where he is required to pay $1,400 a month. He's a year in the rears too so he has too come up with that money too. Who can afford that unless you're absolutely rich or a millionaire.

So that guy ever get a fair shake?

Not sure hwy this fed to me seeing that it is last year. But the system that did it has had no change for the better.
The story had a few assumption but in teh end it was base on some pretty unfair and shady court actions.
The Custodial parent has extraordinary power to harm if their agent in CES allows to be biased by what they say and not fact. You can't squeeze blood from a turnip and the real "deadbeats" will always have the money to fight and stay free. The majority that fall behind just cant pay. And some states like the state of WA that owe, have EXPONENTIAL Interest. My life is ruined I have my youngest disabled child with me, he has the two that were left trust funds. The horrific amount of Due Process I've been denied over and over is uncountable. That Ashley chick posting is broken record saying court document says they were notified. Well shove it. Travesty of justice happens CONSTANTLY in the hands of Family Court System. I was no longer in marital home, had filed my proper address with the court but his attorney was getting away with sending there.. to him... to not forward. Don't be naive like me and think no fault divorce = civil. It means you don't need excuse to file. The winner ? is usually who filed first. Though it is agreed that there is no equality to progress mediation level in cases that had domestic violence or if only one party has attorney. Pray you are in filed in a state that uses income percentages instead of those friking charts that assume. My kids are now of age, well my son has to withstand one more year. Once it is inactive and just arrears I can repair my credit and attempt to pay the daem thing off in reasonable schedule and percent of my income and that can't be used as a weapon anymore. he attacks me in court every 4 years. If he had left me alone Id have paid it off instead of attys fees that ate my 401k up. I think the tax and earnings garnishments should be enough. Jail time (not m yet tank the stars...he tried once) and revoking needed DLs and Documentations is not anything but punitive and destructive of the children getting anything salvaged from the scorched earth. It already costs the taxpayer.. I wish divorce had attorneys appointed for both parties from onset. bet less frivolus crap and sneaky exparte actions would come of it. And the kids get a better arrangement. Sliding payment scale for the attorneys based on what the parties are earning.
I trusted the legal system until then. My ex didnt even win custody originally, I did. Then his father took them from "both " of us to hand them to him a year later. Regardless of the facts, some from his own statements while angry at my presence , that saw him unfit to have a hamster.