LETTERS: FATHER QUESTIONS CHILD-SUPPORT CALCULATIONS

To the editor:

I am a former resident of Cape Girardeau. I wish to address the practice of using speculative income in the calculation of child support. I have no problem with paying child support and make every effort to comply with my order. The problem is that my child-support payment is based on what I should be making, not my actual income. Since I have a significantly lower income than the court and the Missouri Department of Child Support Enforcement say I should have, I am delinquent. I feel the state is creating deadbeat dads by using unfair standards. I have tried to address this issue but was told by Child Support Enforcement to pay up or face legal action. I cannot afford a lawyer, so how can I fight the state of Missouri?

DAVID RAGLAND

Malabar, Fla.