Am I required to go with FRO?

[TrevP]

Last month I got my court orders for child access and sale of our matrimonial home. Sale of the home was marked as FINAL order, child access and CS was marked as a temporary order.

On the access order there is a request for FRO management of the CS payments. I have been making on time CS payments directly to her without any issues. I got a letter from FRO stating they received copies of the court order and asking me to call them to set up the whole thing.

I have not replied to them.

I have since learned that my ex has purchased a home a couple of weeks ago since she believes our closing date of July 3 will bring her her portion of the assets from the sale of the house so she can close on her house and move right away. I find this to be rather optimistic on her behalf. If there is anything I've learned about lawyers, courts and divorce is that the whole thing marches on it's on timescale!

Since my order is temporary do I have to submit to FRO since our other things are not settled yet?

[logicalvelocity]

Since you have been contacted by the FRO, Its best to register with them. Start paying child support directly to the FRO rather than the other parent. By doing so, guarantees credit of payment.


lv

[TrevP]

I keep detailed records so that's not my concern. My issue is with the fact I hear horror stories about FRO and I think she's based her mortgage approval on the forced FRO payments....

[logicalvelocity]

I keep detailed records so that's not my concern. My issue is with the fact I hear horror stories about FRO and I think she's based her mortgage approval on the forced FRO payments....

Regardless of the Horror stories, (most of which are most likely real) If the other party registered the support order with the FRO already -- You have no other choice than to pay your support through FRO directly. Follow FRO's instructions for payment.

[standing on the sidelines]

I am wondering if a mortgage company would even consider CS when deciding to approve a mortgage or not??

I agree with the above posters, you have to register with FRO. But also remember that if the order changes and you are required to pay less then contact them right away to get the support order amount changed. Do not for a minute think that the ex will if the amount is going down, if it goes up she will be getting it changed in a heartbeat.

[Suchislife]

Court Orders are automatically registered with FRO, temporary or not. If you do not wish to use FRO both parties must sign a Notice Of Withdrawal.

[littleman]

CS cannot be used as source of income for a mortgage consideration......there is always the what if factor with CS & SS.......what if the person paying becomes ill, dies or just doesnt pay.........those are the reasons it is NOT an income factor for mortgage approval

[AtALoss]

It is true that a bank would not consider a settlement on asset to be an income source as it is a one shot deal, But what they will consider it is for a down payment. It is monies that she has coming and seems to be entitled to. As well it has no bearing what so ever on you child support. realtors can also make arrangements for her too. Both are operating legally. Dont waste your energies on that deal. She does have a right to move on too and to do what she needs to to provide. Court expects that from her too.

Seems though that the two of you have had this so far as amicable as you can. Try to keep it that way. In other words stay as far away from FRO as you can. You and your ex do not have to be involved with them. Un fortunately she got them involved. If you both can agree to stop you have to both contact FRO and fill out forms to voluntarily withdraw. That has to come from both of you. and ASAP if you do it in the meantime dont mess with them you have to contact them and do pay through them until you can get a withdrawal.

FRO is nasty just ask me sometime.

[billm]

Is there any advantage to the payee to not register with the FRO, or as in this case to withdraw from the FRO? Why would she agree to this?

[TrevP]

She bought her house based on the settlement we are each getting from the sale of our matrimonial home. We owned it outright so what were getting is substantial. I don't bemoan her choice to move on, just that she bought before everything is settled (unless she knows something I don't) and denied me the sale for a year and a half. She even had the gall to ask me for $2500 for an offer down payment from our investments a week after the sale. If I had asked for the same I would have been told to go pound sand...

In any case, my lawyer did try to get the other parties to not submit to FRO but he says they're adamant on the fact. My concern is that my income has declined significantly from last year and I'm paying based on a larger income I no longer have. I doubt my lawyer can get that fixed. Going through FRO scares me because what if I lose more business or my job? They won't really work with me I've read. Draconian to say the least.

[AtALoss]

Advantage to not dealing with FRO.....
my my, there are many.

My spouse has just finally won his case against FRO, they have held him in court for the past 7 yrs wanting further support for children 30 29 & 25. There are also now grand kids. The judge ruled that they have had no jurisdiction since 2002. which means they were enforcing an expired order. yet they can take everything from you and leave you homeless.
FRO will tell you they will do nothing with out an order. We have heard so many heart breaking stories.

They are just really good at messing up peoples lives.