"I Just Don't Want Kids" Judge Couldn't Believe It

[00:00:00]All rise for Support Court Judge Van Der Beek. Judge this case number JVB1070 Allen case.

[00:00:07]>> Thank you.

[00:00:08]>> You're welcome.

[00:00:09]>> You all may be seated.

[00:00:11]Okay, Ms. Allen, you brought this case before the court. What's going on?

[00:00:15]>> Well, basically, um [music] my sister came and dropped her kids off um 9 months ago and hasn't come back for them.

[00:00:24]>> How old are the kids?

[00:00:27]>> 4 and 7.

[00:00:30]>> All right. What do you mean she dropped them off and hasn't come back?

[00:00:35]>> Well, um >> I mean, tell me the story. Like, what >> So, for one summer, she just, you know, called and said, "Hey, I need to um would you like your niece and nephew for the summer?" And I said, "Sure, you know."

[00:00:47]So, I took care of them because I know she works hard and she, you know, is, you know, attending school at night and um I don't have any kids, so I, you know, volunteered to help out, but she hasn't come back for them. Nor does she give any financial support. So, that's I'm here.

[00:01:06]>> A woman comes to court seeking help after her sister allegedly dropped off her two children for summer and never returned. 9 months later, she is still raising the 4-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl without receiving any financial support.

[00:01:21]>> Okay. And you want your sister to pay child support to you for her 4-year-old and her 7-year-old.

[00:01:27]>> Yes.

[00:01:27]>> Okay. Are these boys, girls?

[00:01:30]>> The older one's a girl and the younger one's a boy.

[00:01:33]>> Okay.

[00:01:35]What about health insurance?

[00:01:37]>> Um she pays the health insurance.

[00:01:40]>> Okay.

[00:01:42]All right. Is there anything else you want me to know before I move over to her?

[00:01:47]>> Um you know, I love my niece and my nephew and um you know, I I I don't necessarily want to keep them from her, but, you know, if she needs my help and I can help, then I want to, but I need her help, also. All right. That's it. You know, I'm not trying to be ugly or malicious to my sister. I want her to do well.

[00:02:06]I just need help.

[00:02:07]>> I understand.

[00:02:08]>> Okay.

[00:02:09]>> Although she loves her niece and nephew, the aunt explains that caring for two children is expensive. She tells the judge she isn't trying to keep the kids from their mother. She simply needs help covering their daily expenses.

[00:02:22]>> Ma'am, what is the reason that you dropped your children off with your sister and haven't been back to get them?

[00:02:31]>> I just decided that I don't want to have kids.

[00:02:35]>> Excuse me?

[00:02:37]>> I don't want to have kids.

[00:02:39]>> Yeah, well, you already had them, so they're yours.

[00:02:45]Your sister is raising them.

[00:02:48]Don't you think you should want to get them back?

[00:02:53]Or you don't want kids at all? You don't want the responsibility, anything?

[00:02:57]>> No.

[00:02:58]I just don't want to have kids anymore.

[00:03:01]>> Okay, interesting. Now, um what about the financial part of it? What about paying your sister child support to take care of your children? I mean, you don't want them. You're not raising them.

[00:03:13]They've been with her for the past 9 months.

[00:03:15]So, wouldn't you say it's fair to give her some money for them?

[00:03:20]>> When questioned by the judge, the mother delivers a stunning response. She openly admits that she no longer wants to have children, and has no desire to take back the responsibilities of raising them.

[00:03:32]>> I don't really have it. I only make like $40,000 a year.

[00:03:37]>> But you're making money.

[00:03:38]Okay?

[00:03:39]Do you live alone?

[00:03:41]>> Yes.

[00:03:42]>> You live alone. You make $40,000 a year.

[00:03:47]She said she pay health insurance.

[00:03:50]>> And I go to school at night.

[00:03:52]>> Okay.

[00:03:53]Well, that's good.

[00:03:55]You don't want to What are you going to school for? Let me ask you this first.

[00:04:00]>> For fashion.

[00:04:01]>> Fashion, okay.

[00:04:03]You plan to make a lot of money with that?

[00:04:06]>> Hopefully one day.

[00:04:08]>> Do you intend on getting your kids back at some point?

[00:04:14]>> Um I mean, I don't know.

[00:04:17]I just know how I feel right now, and I just don't want to have my kids. I just want to focus on my career.

[00:04:23]>> So, let's talk about that. Did you just wake up one day and say, I don't want to have kids anymore, and I'm going to send them make it seem as though I want my sister to keep them for the summer when really I'm just going to drop them off and never pick them back up?

[00:04:40]Like what How did you get to that point?

[00:04:43]>> It just kind of happened. And it just I just >> The judge presses a mother for answers.

[00:04:50]Try to understand how someone could walk away from their own children. The mother claims she want to focus on her career and education instead of parenting.

[00:04:59]>> It kind of just happened. Are you dating someone?

[00:05:02]>> No.

[00:05:03]>> Were you dating someone?

[00:05:06]>> Yes.

[00:05:07]>> Did they have kids?

[00:05:10]>> No.

[00:05:12]>> They didn't want your kids around?

[00:05:16]>> I mean, not necessarily. I just >> So, what was Was that what started this?

[00:05:20]You not wanting your kids because the person you were in a relationship with really didn't want your kids around?

[00:05:27]>> Well, no. It's just I just want to focus on my school, and I just want to I work, and so that's like my whole day, and >> You have to understand why this is hard for me to process, right? You know, because myself, I'm a parent. And I'll do whatever for my kids. That includes career, whatever. So, to be sitting across from you and you're very adamant about that is really shocking for me.

[00:05:55]So, you'll have to excuse me if I seem a little taken back.

[00:05:58]Um It It's not making sense, ma'am.

[00:06:04]What it sounds like to me is that you ditched your kids because of the relationship that you previously had.

[00:06:11]You're no longer with that person.

[00:06:13]>> The judge explores whether past relationship influenced the mother's decision. She suspects the mother may have distanced herself from her children because a former partner [music] didn't want them around.

[00:06:24]>> Right. Which means you can go get your kids again, right?

[00:06:30]>> Well, now they've just been there so long. It's maybe what's best and >> Well, 9 months is a long time in the sense that you go without seeing them and taking care of them, but you can still make it right.

[00:06:42]>> It's easier for her, judge. My apologies to just, you know, outburst, but it's just easier for her.

[00:06:49]For me to have them, basically.

[00:06:52]>> And this is what you're okay with doing?

[00:06:56]>> Yeah.

[00:06:57]>> Unable to stay silent, the aunt explains that caring for the children has simply become easier for their mother. Her emotional statement highlights the frustration of suddenly becoming a full-time caregiver.

[00:07:09]>> Okay.

[00:07:10]All right. So, this is what we're going to do. You said that you make $40,000 a year.

[00:07:15]Health insurance, how much was that?

[00:07:18]>> $80.

[00:07:19]>> $80? Okay.

[00:07:21]And that $80, that's for both of the children?

[00:07:24]>> Yes.

[00:07:25]>> Okay.

[00:07:26]All right. So, this is what we're going to have you do. We're going to have you continue to pay the health insurance. At least make sure the kids stay insured, okay? And you have to keep working because you're going to pay your sister child support. You understand that, right?

[00:07:40]>> But I don't make enough.

[00:07:42]>> Did you think you were going to come in here, not take care of them, and not pay child support?

[00:07:50]>> Well, I just think >> I need to hear this.

[00:07:55]>> I just think they're doing okay, and she can do it.

[00:07:58]>> Right, but she needs financial support.

[00:08:02]Your sister doesn't have any children.

[00:08:05]You dumped two kids on her.

[00:08:08]And the fact that you think that is okay is unacceptable.

[00:08:12]You dropped two kids on her, and you don't even want to pay for them.

[00:08:20]But, what did you think we were doing here today?

[00:08:23]You think I'm sitting up here so you can waste my time?

[00:08:26]>> No.

[00:08:27]>> The judge makes it clear that abandoning parental responsibilities does not eliminate financial obligations. She orders the mother to continue paying health insurance, and prepares to calculate child support.

[00:08:38]>> Okay, so you'd agree with me you should be paying your sister something, right?

[00:08:45]>> Yes.

[00:08:46]>> Okay. When do you graduate from school?

[00:08:48]>> In um May of next year.

[00:08:52]>> Okay. Where um are the children's father?

[00:08:57]>> I don't know.

[00:09:00]>> For both? Or I mean, do they have the same father?

[00:09:03]>> No.

[00:09:03]>> Okay, so where is the 7-year-old's dad?

[00:09:07]>> He's somewhere. I don't know. I I don't I don't really know.

[00:09:11]>> What about the 4-year-old?

[00:09:13]>> Um >> He's present sometimes. He comes around sometimes.

[00:09:19]Are you okay?

[00:09:20]>> Yeah. Yes.

[00:09:22]>> Okay, you you understand what's going on here today, right? I just want to make sure that you're completely aware of everything that's going on today. You're going to walk out of this courtroom today paying child support to your sister.

[00:09:38]You understand that, right?

[00:09:41]>> Yeah.

[00:09:44]>> Okay.

[00:09:47]Now, if you don't understand, I need you to tell me you don't understand, okay?

[00:09:53]So, we're clear. You understand.

[00:09:56]>> Yes.

[00:09:57]>> Okay.

[00:09:58]So, you said you make $40,000 a year, giving you credit for health insurance, they bring your gross to $3,253.

[00:10:08]Your net, $2,798.

[00:10:14]That's 25% for two children. That brings your child support to about $699.50.

[00:10:19][music] We're going to round it up to $700.

[00:10:23]That's what you will pay your sister monthly.

[00:10:26]>> After reviewing the mother's income and insurance payments, the court determines how much support should be paid. The judge emphasizes that the aunt should not be forced to shoulder the burden alone.

[00:10:37]>> I just don't think I can afford it. I have to pay for school and that's really what my priority is right now.

[00:10:45]>> Well, your sister's priority is to take care of your children. Your children.

[00:10:51]Not her children, your children. So, as long as she's in the position that you put her in, you're going to have to make it work.

[00:11:00]You graduate next year, you can find a job.

[00:11:02]A better paying job than what you have now.

[00:11:05]Right?

[00:11:07]Is that a yes?

[00:11:08]>> Yes.

[00:11:08]>> Okay. So, then there's no confusion. Do you have any other questions?

[00:11:15]>> No.

[00:11:16]>> Are you upset with her?

[00:11:17]>> No.

[00:11:19]>> Oh, okay. I was just making sure because I don't believe she did anything wrong.

[00:11:25]Ms. Allen, do you have any other questions?

[00:11:27]>> No, Your Honor. Thank you.

[00:11:28]>> You're welcome. If there's nothing further, you all are dismissed.

[00:11:31]>> Thank you.

[00:11:34]>> The judge orders a mother to pay $700 per month in child support to her sister, despite claiming she cannot afford it.

[00:11:42]The court reminds her that her children's needs must come before her personal priorities.