Mom’s Smug Attitude Fades as Judge Orders Her to Pay Child Support

Ajouté : 2026-05-13

[00:00:00]I moved out uh due to a physical altercation where he was holding my daughter in his hands. Um and he physically altercated me. He did leave me with a $400 bill in my name at the other house that I paid off all by myself. I don't see why uh I need to pay him radioactive child support respectfully. We are here on the Attorney General's Uniform Interstate Family Support Act petition. Present in the virtual courtroom is Muel Schaefer.

[00:00:31]Are you ready to proceed?

[00:00:33]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:00:35]>> Also present is Assistant Attorney General Whitney Coun. Are you ready to proceed?

[00:00:39]>> Ready, your honor.

[00:00:41]>> You may proceed.

[00:00:43]>> Um, thank you, your honor. Ma'am, what is your full name?

[00:00:46]>> Muel Angelica Schaefer.

[00:00:49]>> And what is the full name of your child on the case? Kamari.

[00:00:54]>> Who is Kamari's father?

[00:00:57]>> Stefan Maurice Bates.

[00:01:00]>> Um, and does uh Kamari currently live with Mr. Bates?

[00:01:04]>> Yes.

[00:01:06]>> And when did Kamari start living with Mr. Bates?

[00:01:10]>> Um, I say roughly around like September of last year, October.

[00:01:16]>> Okay. Um, where were you employed? Um, in January of 2023, >> Eagle Flats Village.

[00:01:26]>> And how much did you earn when you worked at Eagle Flats?

[00:01:31]>> 14 hourly.

[00:01:33]>> And how many hours did you work per week?

[00:01:36]>> Um, in January, I was working different hours. Um, so like anywhere between like 34 and 38, it really just fluctuated.

[00:01:55]>> Um, when did you stop working for Eagle Flat?

[00:02:00]>> Uh, just a few days ago, the 9th, I believe.

[00:02:04]>> Okay. [snorts] And over the time from uh January of 2023 up until um you stopped working there last week, do you know um what you would average per week in terms of the number of hours you worked?

[00:02:31]>> About 35.

[00:02:33]Okay.

[00:02:34]Um, do you have any other minor children besides the child on this case?

[00:02:40]>> No, ma'am.

[00:02:42]>> Um, and where are you currently employed?

[00:02:46]>> Nowhere.

[00:02:48]>> Um, do you um what what happened with your job with Eagle Flat?

[00:02:59]>> Uh, I was asked to do something that I was not comfortable with. I refused. Uh there were disagreements and um what's the word?

[00:03:13]Differences and she ended up letting me go, my boss.

[00:03:18]>> Okay. Um and are you um seeking unemployment benefits?

[00:03:25]>> Yes. And seeking um employment as well.

[00:03:31]>> Okay.

[00:03:32]Um, do you um have have any um interviews lined up? Uh, no ma'am. Uh, I have been calling the state hospital cuz they're about to have some spots open up. Um, but, uh, I've really just been following up on the applications that I've put in the past couple of days over this weekend since I've been let go. I put in a handful and I will be following up with them. Uh probably tomorrow or whenever I'm off of the phone.

[00:04:06]>> Sure, Jan.

[00:04:08]>> Okay. Um I pass the witness.

[00:04:12]>> Okay. Um Miss Schaefer, do you have any other testimony that you would like to share?

[00:04:19]>> I do. Yes.

[00:04:20]>> Okay. What is that?

[00:04:22]>> Um there was a statement where when I first got served the child support papers, there was an option to dispute it. Um, and I did write it. It's about 14 pages that I hammer it. Um, I got it turned I went to go turn it in a day after. Um, and I didn't realize that it was the day after that I could turn it in.

[00:04:44]>> All right, guys. Let's break this down.

[00:04:46]This isn't just a custody dispute. It's a reality check wrapped in legal procedure. The mother walks in loaded with emotional history, abuse claims, financial strain, and frustration. But the court keeps dragging it back to one thing, child support. No matter how messy the past is, the law narrows the focus fast.

[00:05:07]>> Um, so it's just basically my disputing statement from prior that I did not get to turn in.

[00:05:16]>> Okay. So, can you hit the high points of of what you're disputing? And it needs to be narrowly focused to whether this is about you paying child support, medical support, and back support going back to January of this year. So, those three subjects, what are you disputing as to uh why you should not have to pay any of those things?

[00:05:39]There are there are a number of reasons, but he has not had a single job since we split up. Um I believe that he is not reporting all income in the household on his like tanniff and food stamps and stuff.

[00:05:56]>> Okay. And just to give you for Texas, we only count your income, the person that doesn't have possession of the child. So yeah, their income doesn't doesn't factor into what we do to calculate support.

[00:06:12]>> Well, um the income that he is not providing, I believe, is the reason that they are even getting approved for these government funds and the reason I'm having to pay these child supports. Uh so I want to dispute it. And um pretty much I want 50% custody from him because he's had times where we've had agreements um verbal agreements of when I'm supposed to have her because my work threw me around a lot. I covered in spots for my boss. Um people who either quit or got fired. I would cover that spot for a while. So I was going from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to 8 to 4 to 9 to 5 and just kind of being thrown around in there. So, my days off would change.

[00:06:56]Um, and I would let him know like, hey, I'm kind of being thrown around. My days are going to change. And there would be a lot of times where he would make plans uh or plans with like his girlfriend or something or just girls or his friends, the on days that I was supposed to have her and there was really no reason that I couldn't still take her. He just was I mean like I don't want to say keeping her from me but he was >> but you understand that that again this is only to do with current child support medical support >> proactive child support and the visitation is not part of this what we're doing today.

[00:07:39]>> Yes, I understand that. But I I have had a job basically since I had a job my entire pregnancy with him when for 7 months and then he didn't have a job and then he kept his job for maybe 4 months and he was let go because he couldn't not be late or he couldn't not show up. Um and then after that he never got a job again. Um, and I have been working full-time since 2 months after I moved out, uh, due to a physical altercation where he was holding my daughter in his hands. Um, and he physically altercated me. Um, I ended up getting all my stuff, moving out the next day. Uh, I went back to my mom's house. Um, and then I just got on my feet from there. I went and I got a full-time job at the place she was working at. There was a position open and um she didn't get me the job or anything like I went and got my own job.

[00:08:40]Uh and I had been working there ever since until last week when me and my boss uh had the differences and she ended up letting me go. Um >> what did you do at that job? What was your function?

[00:08:54]>> I was a resident aid and assistant and I was also housekeeping for a while. So, a resident assistant. Um, basically, let's see. I have a list of objectives that >> Okay. I mean, you don't have to just big picture. Let's stay big picture. So, how are you supporting yourself right now?

[00:09:13]>> Uh, I just applied for unemployment the day I got released. Um, and I've been applying to jobs every day since I've got released. But currently, I'm not supporting myself at all because when I was making my money, I was making too much to get approved for food stamps or anything like that. Um, the only thing that I do have is Texas Healthy Women's and I haven't I haven't used it since I've had it. Um, >> over the last 11 months when you were employed, did you send money to Mr. Bates to help support your child?

[00:09:46]>> Yes.

[00:09:48]>> How much did you send?

[00:09:50]Uh, I wouldn't be able to recall that.

[00:09:52]But, um, I do have money from recently.

[00:09:55]I know I have sent at least a hundred in the past couple of months for um because I don't have a car. So, they'll bring her to me and then I'll pay them to come pick her up. Um, but before was sent increments of I know there was a time I sent $75 to him because he asked for it.

[00:10:13]But there was also times where I would offer money and he would tell me he didn't want my money. uh and he didn't want me to send him money even if I offered it. That's also part of the reason that I'm wanting to dispute this because there was so many times that uh I I have my mom witness for and so many people it that's besides the point. But he wouldn't take my money even when I did offer it to him half of the time and then he will come back and say that I didn't do any of this or that I didn't try or that I don't see my daughter even though he doesn't work. So, I have to have her on my days off cuz I can't take her up to work and it's not an option for me. Um, I'm about to go enroll her in daycare and see if that she can get approved for that for low income. Um, cuz I just have to provide like diapers, wipes, and I think food for her, which I have all of means necessary to provide for her. I have everything here that I need for her. Um, everything that I do have here, I got on my own, but also me and him had a lot of stuff conjoined together for Kamari that he took with him and I never saw like clothes, bottles, etc. Everything that I needed for her, I had to go out and buy on my own because he wouldn't even split them in half with me. Uh, I asked him because we had clothes all the way up to uh, three, 24 months, um, when she was only about six months old that I asked him if, you know, we could go through, he could split them with me because they were ours and he never did. Um, I mean, there's there's a a list of things.

[00:11:51]>> Yeah, we're getting we're getting beyond the scope again of of what we're talking about. So last 11 months, current child sport, current medical sport, and where the child lives. That's what I'm looking at.

[00:12:01]>> She tries to widen the battlefield, questioning the father's income, custody fairness, and past behavior. But the judge shuts that door repeatedly. This isn't a custody hearing. It's a financial obligation hearing. Her biggest mistake, arguing fairness instead of legality. Courts don't weigh emotional equity here. They calculate responsibility.

[00:12:23]Miss Coun, do you have any further testimony?

[00:12:27]>> Um, Miss Schaver, um, do you mentioned a physical altercation? Do you have any concerns with your address and other identifying information being in the court order?

[00:12:40]>> My address?

[00:12:41]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:12:42]>> No, ma'am. It did not happen at my >> Okay. And and you don't believe that um having it in there would pose a risk of any type of harm or harassment to you?

[00:12:55]>> Um no.

[00:12:57]>> Okay.

[00:12:59]>> It was when I was living with him uh at a whole different address that neither of us live at anymore.

[00:13:06]>> Okay. And I I know um we talked about this, but I don't think I asked you um previously. Do you have access to any health or dental insurance the child could be on?

[00:13:20]I believe my I'm not quite sure if she could be put on my mom's insurance, but I think that she can. I think that it's possible. And it's there's like vision dental insurance on there that I know of. I know there's dental, >> but at this time nothing available directly to you. Is that correct?

[00:13:45]>> I believe so. I'm really not sure.

[00:13:48]>> Okay. I passed the witness.

[00:13:51]>> Okay. Any other witnesses, Miss Coun?

[00:13:54]>> No, your honor. The state rests.

[00:13:56]>> All right. The state is rested. That means they have no further evidence or testimony. Do you also rest, Miss Schaefer?

[00:14:03]>> Um, not necessarily. I just I really wanted to get through my statement. I definitely have more points in here.

[00:14:12]Does it have anything to do with child support or medical support?

[00:14:16]>> It has to do with the safety in the household that she is in.

[00:14:21]>> Okay. So, that's something that you would have to address with the other state probably. So, child support or medical support?

[00:14:31]He did leave me with a $400 bill in my name at the other house that I paid off all by myself. He did not help me with.

[00:14:39]I did ask help. He refused. Um, but he basically left the bill in my name whenever I moved out and they were supposed to call and get it changed because that's how we did it the first time. I called and I got it changed my name. Uh, so there was they said that they were going to do it and then months later I went to go get my gas turned on at this new house at my own house when I got this house and I could not get it turned on because he had left a $400 bill in my name that I ended up having to pay off on myself that did not get paid off until just a few months back.

[00:15:14]Um, let's see.

[00:15:21]Sorry, I'm just trying to skim through this to see if uh I did try to dispute the bill. Um it didn't end up getting disputed how I thought that it would and they still left the bill in my name. So, I did end up having to pay it off by myself. So, I just I was paying $1,200 a month roughly for my bills. Um Mhm. Mhm. Mhm.

[00:15:47]on top of paying for her on my own.

[00:15:51]Um and then he didn't still wouldn't accept any of my money that I did ask him several times.

[00:16:00]Uh if like I asked him if he needed anything, if Kamar needed anything, if he needed me to send him any money, uh he would refuse and tell me he didn't need my pity money or Um the phys the physical altercation was just um he was dragging me by my wrist uh trying to throw me out of the house physically while he was holding Kamari in his hands. But that that was at the when we were living together. Um and that was the reason I left.

[00:16:42]So, did you and Mr. uh Bates have an agreement about where the child would live?

[00:16:48]>> Uh, yes, because I was going to have a full-time job and he was not.

[00:16:53]>> Okay. All right. Close. Miss Coun.

[00:16:57]Um your honor, the state um based on the um UFSA documents and requests from the state of Oklahoma >> [clears throat] >> um is asking that there be a retroactive support judgement going back to January of uh 2023. Um, I calculated that based on the income that Miss Schaefer testified she had from um, Eagle Flat.

[00:17:22]Um, and came out with a total of $4,9849 prior to any credit the court may determine appropriate. Um and then um as far as current support um if if the court determines a a minimum wage presumption might be appropriate under the circumstances um what we would request on that is $56 per month on medical support um $219 per month um on child support.

[00:17:55]When the state steps in, the tone shifts from personal to procedural. Numbers replace narratives. Income averages, employment gaps, and guideline formulas take over. The system doesn't care who refused money before. It cares who legally owes it now. That's where many self-represented parties lose ground.

[00:18:16]>> And we do ask Miss Schaefer be responsible for the court costs in the matter. And your honor, I believe that um sums up everything we're asking for today. And this and and of course that uh paternity be established. I apologize, your honor.

[00:18:30]>> I'm not sure how you get paternity to be established, Miss Coun.

[00:18:36]>> Uh I I I apologize, your honor. was just uh based on Miss Schaefer's uh testimony that he was the father is is uh what >> he's not under our jurisdiction. So I mean this should be an establishment of support order since it's against the mom >> not the dad understand.

[00:18:56]>> Okay.

[00:18:59]All right. Um a summary of your request, Miss Schaefer.

[00:19:10]I'm sorry.

[00:19:11]>> Can you can you do a I'm asking you do you want to have a statement a final statement a close as Miss Coun also had.

[00:19:21]>> Um I just I don't see why uh I need to pay him radioactive child support respectfully because I I did offer him money. He has brought my daughter down into my town and just not let me see her, not letting me know she's here.

[00:19:38]He's kept her from me. Um, and I have really tried with him. He verbally abuses me, which is why I don't I don't physically text him myself. I text his mother because he cannot be a responsible adult and talk to me like an adult. Um, he's really just put me through it with my daughter. And, um, I I I believe that I do support my child and I need to. So, um it's not about the current child support for me really.

[00:20:04]It's about the radioactive child support and the fact that he just found out refused money. Um I helped him out and he refused to help me. Everything that me and him had together, he kept didn't give me any of it and I still went and I got everything for my daughter on my own and I still support her on my own without help. Um, and he's still asking for my help and I don't mind helping him now, you know, but just everything from January to at least like right after summer was just I don't believe that I need to pay the radioactive child support um due to many countless reasons that I can't even list right now.

[00:20:49]>> Okay. All right. I do find that you do have a duty to support your child. Uh because you are the mother of the child and the child is not in your care and someone else's care. I will set current child support uh based on minimum wage because you're currently unemployed at this time. That doesn't mean it can't be modified in the future, but you're capable of uh maintaining a minimum wage job. I will set current child support at $220 per month beginning December 1st, 2023. I will order government health insurance and you to pay cash medical support of $50 per month beginning December 1st, 2023. I will give you some credit over the uh regarding some bills and some debt that you were left with and that actually had to do with support for the child. I am ordering $2,500 in retroactive child support uh for the last 11 months and ordering $25 per month payout towards that judgment beginning December 1st, 2023.

[00:21:50]>> The ruling lands like a compromise, not a victory. The judge cuts the retroactive amount and uses minimum wage instead of past earnings, a clear sign of leniency, but still enforces the obligation. Translation: The court acknowledges hardship, but not as an escape route. Responsibility doesn't disappear just because circumstances were messy.

[00:22:14]>> Um, I'm ordering you to pay court cost one year from today's date. Any party can ask for a new hearing within the next 3 days by filing a trial denovo. It must be in writing. It must specify the portion of my ruling in which a new hearing is being requested and notice must go out to all the parties and um m today after um this hearing Miss Coons will prepare an order submit it to me for signature and then a copy will go out to you Miss Schaefer and which will detail all the things that I've just ruled upon. Thank you for being here.

[00:22:47]That concludes the hearing and you are free to disconnect from the Zoom meeting.

[00:22:52]Um, I do have a quick question about what uh you said to make sure the information is correct that I wrote down. Um, the the clerk dispute, you said you could do that in 3 days. Um, what was the first word that you said?

[00:23:08]I'm sorry. Trial denovo.

[00:23:11]How do you spell that? I'm so sorry.

[00:23:13]>> Trial. T R I A L.

[00:23:16]>> Okay. D E N O V O.

[00:23:23]Okay. In the new trial >> and the 220 and the 50 a month, uh, you said that starts December 1st.

[00:23:31]>> Yes. You will have the whole month to pay it. As long as you get those done within the those 30 days, then you will not be delinquent in your current child support obligations.

[00:23:41]>> And then the $25 each, and that said that you started that started December 1st. What was the $25 each for? $25 per month to pay back retroactive child support for the last 11 months.

[00:23:54]>> Okay, that was going to be my next question. Okay.

[00:23:56]>> Okay, I think that's everything.

[00:23:59]>> That final moment, her carefully writing down trial denovo says everything. She's overwhelmed but still trying to fight.

[00:24:07]The law stayed rigid while her story stayed human. That's the harsh truth here. Family court isn't about who suffered more. It's about who owes what under the rules. Make sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and we'll see you in the next