Didn't want them anyway

by Sammy Castaneda
(Kermit Tx)

In 2005, my ex and I went to court in Pecos County. During our court session there was nothing negative said on my behalf. there were numerous negative instances brought against her in which the courts still decided that she should be the custodial parent becasue she could be at home everyday. She got on disabiltity soon after our break up. She claims to be 95% deaf. I do not believe she is deaf, at least not that much, because she is able to argue and talk just fine until I tell her something about it then she remembers she is deaf. I was ordered to pay child support in the amount of 500+ for two kids. that amount increased though after a paternity test was done on my younger son whom she did not allow me to see for the first year of his life until the courts said so.

They made me pay back a year so i had to pay 700+ for about 1.5 years to get me caught up. I never missed my payments and i never missed any weekend that i was supposed to have my boys. On most occasions i drove the whole three hours to go pick them up friday night and come home. Also drove the whole three hours back on Sunday to make sure that they got there on time. She was supposed to meet me halfway but claimed she didn't have the money to be driving like that all the time. Even though i was payin her lots of money and she had nothing to show for it. I was still having to buy my boys clothes and other things for them because she said she couldn't afford them.

My oldest son has ADHD. Their mom was having a hard time with the boys and her other two kids from previous relationships. She was always griping to me about them and she finally had enough. she asked if my wife and I would take them for a year so she could get her "life" together and maybe go to college, of which neither happened. We made her sign over full custody of them to us if she wanted to do this. she had 4 months to change her mind but she still did it with no problems. After this I called a lawyer so that i could get papers drawn up. this alone cost me 1300 dollars as well as 2500 dollars from the first court sessions in which I wasted my money because my lawyer did not say anything.

He just told me to take what they give me. Some lawyer. After we got the papers done everything went smooth for about 1 to 2 months and then she started to mess up alot. not come get the boys and also she quit payin her child supports like she was supposed to. I only hit her for 120 dollars a month in child support. I could have gone for 250 a month even though she was not working. It has been well over a year now since any payments have been made. she is over 2000 dollars behind now and the goverment or attorney generals office have done nothing to make her pay.

I have called and asked about this many times and explained that if it was the other way around i would probably be in a jail cell already. The state told me that there are certain disabilities that the wages cannot be garnished. she is on one of them. they also told me that there is other disability income that she could be on that would garnish her wages but it has not been done yet either.It would be nice if she would grow up and accept her responsibilities instead of making excuses and telling lies to us constantly. As far as the state is concerned, I do not feel that they have done there part in this matter and sure seems like they favor the mom for whatever reason.