Spotlight on an NCCSO Member

Meet Kimberly S. DiNuzzo

All of the government preaches about the rights of children and the enforcement of the custodial parent receiving the child support for the children. I don't believe this is standing true, and I don't know what else to do.

I have two children. Gabriel and Nicole Umila. Gabriel is 10 years old and Nicole is 7. I have been in an out of court for the last 3 years. My ex husband, Gabriel Umila, Jr. moved out of the state of Illinois to the State of Indiana.

When we have requested his presence in the Circuit Court of Cook County Illinois, he does not bother to show up. This wastes my time, the legal counsel's time and the courts time. I had a private lawyer and he did everything possible in order to collect the back support totaling almost $10,000.00 plus 9% interest. The last court appreance that was made with the private attny was May 11, 2001. At that time, the judge told us to transfer this case to the States Attny's office. It took almost 1 year for this to happen. In April 2002, we had the first court date with the States Attny representing me, my ex husband actually showed up and asked for a continuance. Which of course he was granted. On June 6, 2002 we were to reappear in court. I was present, and of course my ex husband did not bother to show up once again. Now, I have not only had to miss this day of work, but I now have to go back to the Child Support Division on the 24th of June to fill out more paper work in order to try and get this case transferred to the States Attny in Jefferson County, Indiana, so they can start going after him. I was told that this process could take 6 to 8 months.

The court has issued body attachments but because he lives out of state, they are no good. I am told that until the back support reaches $20,000.00 it cannot become federal. I don't understand. Why our we the victims here? This should never have been allowed to go this far. I talk to other women who are owed more than this and they are having the same problem. It seems to me, that the laws are working in the favor of the people who are breaking the law. Again, I don't understand.

If our laws are supposed to protect the children of this country, why are they not working for my children and me? What do I have to do in order to get the government to enforce the laws that have been put into place? Nothing that I am doing seems to be working.

We as a nation have to find away to get this problem worked out so our children don't have to do without, and the laws are properly enforced.

Kimberly S. DiNuzzo