A MUST-READ ARTICLE

On December 1st the NY Times ran an article titled, “Mothers Scrimp as State Takes Child Support.” It caught my attention because child support is a topic I write about in my book, and talk about on television and radio. But you may have skipped it, or not seen at it at all. Why? Because you have to connect with something on an emotional level first in order to express further interest. What you define as a “must read” may have more to do with your career, your wedding, or your wardrobe, than it has to do with your future hubby’s child support obligations. But I’m just guessing.

What do welfare mothers have to do with you anyway? Plenty. If you’re planning to marry or have married a divorced man with kids, child support (and consequently the welfare system) will be a central issue in your home. But do you really know what you’re up against?

The Times article sheds light on a serious issue in child support enforcement, using child support payments to fund the welfare system, rather than support the children for whom the money is intended.

The article also discusses some of the other negative consequences of the system, which could affect your guy. Here’s a little blurb you may find troubling:

“Young fathers with little education or job prospects find themselves in arrears and facing jail time or the loss of their driver’s licenses as a result, making it all the harder to start earning and paying, said David J. Pate Jr., an assistant professor of social work at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.”

While the focus of the article is on low-income families, the same trouble could come knocking on your sweetie’s door. It pays to be informed about the child support industry; reading this and other important articles will help you stay on top of the latest developments.

In my book, Every Single Girl’s Guide to Her Future Husband’s Last Divorce, I devote an entire chapter to child support and the potential issues that could plague your family for years. By the time you’re done reading it, you’ll know exactly how to protect your family’s financial health – and your own assets.

So get educated. Stop thinking of child support as “your husband’s issue.” It’s time to change your idea of what is a “must read,” and learn all you can about child support.