Divorced from Reality
Joe Vandusen is the biological father of two kids. He’s helping raise two others because he’s in a relationship with their mother. But there’s one kid he says it’s wrong that he’s being asked pay child support for: his wife’s. “We’ve had no contact whatsoever in 16 or 17 years, and the child just turned 1 year old,” says the Davenport, Iowa, man. Under Iowa law, a husband is automatically the legal father of his wife’s newborn; divorce would have protected him, but estrangement doesn’t. “I explained to [a state Child Support Recovery Unit case worker] this is not my child; I’m willing to do a paternity test. And she flat out told me it does not matter, you’re legally married to her. You’re going to pay child support,” he said. Paternity could be “de-established” in court, but Vandusen, who recently lost his job, is in financial difficulties, and when he contacted a lawyer, the lawyer wanted a $2,000 retainer. “Unless I come up with that magical $2,000 to pay the lawyer,” Vandusen says, “I don’t know what I can do.” (AC/WQAD Quad Cities) ...Magically come up with money to pay child support.Story Update: Strangers came to Vandusen’s aid. After his story went viral on Facebook, someone started an online fundraiser to help, which paid for the lawyer, who got the case to court, and he won the appeal. But that was not the end for Vandusen. “I think from here, I’m going to get with these organizations that have contacted me throughout my ordeal and I think we’re going to fight. I want this law changed. My case may be over, I’m not done fighting. There’s a lot of guys there just like me.” Which just goes to show: Vandusen really is a decent man.
Original Publication Date: 03 April 2016
This story is in True’s book collections, in Volume 22.
This story is in True’s book collections, in Volume 22.
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