A 74-year-old woman from California, Toni Anderson, has finally won a settlement in court that will require her ex-husband to pay her $150,000 in child support back payments. This victory comes after fifty years since their divorce, during which the ex-husband chose to flee to Canada rather than provide financial support for their child.
Anderson, a single mother, struggled for years to make ends meet without the child support payments she needed. Despite the challenges, she did an excellent job raising their daughter, Lena. Anderson supported her daughter’s dreams and even helped her secure a career at an interior design firm in Los Angeles, where Anderson had once worked before retiring.
Retired now, Anderson felt it was time to hold her ex-husband accountable and pursue legal action to receive the child support she was owed. She believed that he should have continued providing support even after moving to a different country.
After years of missing payments, Anderson’s ex-husband, Donald Lenhart, accumulated a child support debt of $170,000. Lenhart attempted to fight the charges with the help of lawyers but only managed to reduce the total owed to $150,000. He has since returned to the United States and now resides in Oregon.
Taking matters into her own hands, Anderson brought her ex-husband to court to receive the child support payments she deserved. Lenhart was fortunate that his wife did not pursue further legal action, as failing to pay child support is a federal offense that carries a potential penalty of jail time.
Although Lenhart must pay the substantial sum of $150,000, he is lucky to have avoided imprisonment for his actions. Had Anderson not settled with him privately, Lenhart’s case could have been considered a felony, as he had fled the country for over two years to evade paying child support.
This victory for Anderson serves as a reminder that child support is a crucial responsibility, and avoiding payment is not only unfair but also illegal.
