Working it Off: Introducing a Service-Based Child Support Model

Abstract

This Article introduces a new model of child support for low to no-income noncustodial parents — usually fathers — who owe large amounts of child support arrearages. Instead of making little to no monetary payments to their child(ren)’s custodial parent(s) — usually mothers — these fathers would perform various forms of labor for the mothers. This model gives these fathers a way to avoid jail for failure to pay child support and provides mothers otherwise nonexistent support. This Article explains why the current child support system is failing poor families, discusses how this service-based model can improve the lives of all parties involved, and notes its points of strength and weakness.

Keywords: child support, family law, gender and the law