Matt Berger

It was bad enough the neither of us were given the child custody that we had asked for at the time of our divorce.   I was too busy with my work and my ex wife did not want to take care of the baby.  Since the child was too small to be on its own we had agreed on a child custody program and were required to pay an equal amount towards that maintenance of the child out there.  I was regular with my payments as I had set up a direct debit facility with my bank.  But it was by ex wife who was not making the payments.  She tried her best to make sure that she could avoid paying the money and I had to bear the hearing from the center every time. 

I tried to make up for some of the shortage by making ad hoc payments to the center but that was just not enough and soon I was being burdened with more and more requests for additional money.  I had to talk to my ex wife about it and ask her to make her payments on time or the center would be forced to act against her.  That too did not deter from delaying the payments.

I had in the mean time gotten a new girlfriend who was very much interested in taking care of the baby and was asking me to re apply for the custody of the child.  As the child support payments were not being made by my ex wife I had to make an application against her to see that she did make the payments.  The courts were harsh on her when they learned that she had been delaying the money that rightfully belonged to the child.  She was held in contempt of the court and fined for the offense.  At the same time I had made an application for the custody of the child and had prepared myself for the questions that I may have to answer. 

My lawyers had briefed me about the questions and I was ready for that.  I made it clear in the court that I would take care of the child on my own and did not need the support of my ex wife at all.  That was again based on the condition that she sign away all rights to the child and not even have the rights of a visit.

My ex wife was only too happy to do that and she willingly said yes.  The paperwork took some time after which I was able to bring my child home.  The child is now leading a good life in my presence and I am thankful to my girlfriend for that.