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Unfortunately, there are millions of us that are owed back due child support payments from our deadbeat ex spouses. Doesn't matter if it is a husband or wife, this is a widespread problem throughout our country. What a lot of single parents don't know, and many local child support agencies, for that matter, is that there are Federal Laws in place, which allow them to collect on back due child support, and punish the offenders.

The first step is to understand how the system works, and all of the agencies involved. What is necessary in this whole process is to get your case noticed by all of them. On the local level, many county agencies which handle child support enforcement do not understand, or have even seen, cases which warrant Federal Prosecution, and have no clue how to proceed with this. It is up to the single parent to understand the law, and get any help possible to enforce the law.

The main federal program which applies to Federal Prosecution of past due child support is called "Project Save Our Children", which is run by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. When a case is referred to them, it is investigated first by Health and Human Services via what is called "Project Save Our Children Task Forces"; multi-jurisdictional agencies, which include local agencies, police departments, US Attorney's Offices, and Inspector Generals, to name a few. The basic federal requirements for referral to PSOC is that the case must be interstate (where the parents live in different states) and the arrears must be greater than $20,000.00. However, it seems as if the states have their own requirements, and this is not done very often and is very difficult, because many people who are owed child support are not aware of the federal laws; as well as their local agencies and state agencies only prosecuting a handful of cases. You must know the law, and not give up until the case is referred for Federal prosecution.

Other requirements of this program are:
1. evidence must exist that the obligor knows about the obligation and has willfully failed to pay, and has the ability to pay
2. the obligor has made no payments of support within one year prior to submission of the case
3. the case meets the requirements of the "Deadbeat Parent's Punishment Act" which states: "any person who willfully fails to pay a support obligation with respect to a child who resides in another state, if such obligation has remained unpaid for a period longer than 2 years, or is greater than $10,000.00; and travels interstate with the intent to evade a support obligation."

The process usually involves the following: The case must be referred to Health and Human Services for investigation, and if warranted, will be referred to the US Attorney's office, where the parent seeking prosecution resides. This referral can be made from a variety of sources, including but not limited to: your state representatives, senator offices, local government officials, district attorney's offices, state offices of child support enforcement, governors offices, and of course local caseworkers. I would even suggest writing letters to the President and Vice President. The more people are involved and know about the case, the better.

The most important thing to this whole process is to realize that Federal Laws are in place for a reason, and it is up to the individual to get those agencies to enforce the laws. It will be the most difficult and pain staking process one will ever endure, but it is important to not let deadbeat parents get away with showing no responsibility for the children that they helped to create.

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