US EditionLow-income mother in Georgia sues to halt child support fees after kids are in foster care
The lawsuit challenges Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services over child support fees that burden impoverished parents despite federal guidance and recent state policy changes.
- On Tuesday, hundreds of low-income parents in Georgia filed a civil rights lawsuit naming the Division of Family and Children Services, Georgia Department of Human Services, as the primary defendant.
- The lawsuit says state child-welfare agencies charged impoverished families despite knowing their circumstances, with plaintiffs arguing agencies removed children for housing instability and continued billing them for foster-care child support.
- Annalinda Martinez, mother of six, paid $100 per month until fall 2019 when ordered to pay $472 despite living below poverty, and eventually relinquished parental rights for all six daughters at the agency's urging.
- The lawsuit asks courts to stop seeking child support for most aged-out or adopted children and seeks compensation for improper payments, while a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Human Services said the state has not been served.
- Federal government guidance in 2022 urged limits on seeking child support, while Georgia's 2024 rule change is not retroactive and advocates nationwide criticize removals rooted in financial struggles.
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Total News Sources18
Leaning Left7Leaning Right2Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 36%
14%
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