In our last post, we looked at a number of potential remedies you can take in the event your ex-spouse fails to pay child or spousal support payments. As we noted, though, these remedies do not always guarantee that your ex will cooperate with the process.

Here are some tips to follow to increase your chances of receiving the unpaid support you deserve.

The first piece of advice is to keep detailed records of all support payments you receive. The fact is that many people are not able to collect payments because they cannot document that they have not received the payment. If you can show with specificity that you have not received support payments, your chances of receiving an award are greater.

Specifically, you should:

  • Have your spouse sign an authorization permitting you to obtain his or her future credit reports as part of your settlement.
  • Keep receipts of items your spouse is required to pay, as well as documentation of any payments for which you are entitled to reimbursement.
  • Keep records of when you receive support payments, as well as the exact amount received.
  • Keep your eyes and ears open for how your spouse may be spending his or her money.
  • In addition to these tips it is recommended that you seek professional help. As with all family law matters, it is important to have qualified professionals to help you navigate the sometimes complicated aspects of divorce. A divorce financial planner as well as a family law attorney can be immensely helpful in such matters.

Source: Forbes, "How Can a Divorcing Woman Get the Child Support, Alimony She is Owed?," Jeff Landers, December 14, 2011.