Deadbeat Dad Pays Child Support with $338M Lottery Jackpot
After winning the $338 Million Powerball Jackpot, one former deadbeat dad has completely cured his child support arrears.
This Dad’s Just Plain Lucky
On March 23, New Jersey resident and Powerball winner Pedro Quezada became one of the luckiest dads in the nation. The 44-year-old father of five purchased the sole winning lottery ticket and, less than a week later, has already implemented some substantial lifestyle changes.
After electing a lump sum cash payment ($211,026,552.16), the lottery payout will be about $152 million after taxes.
Quezada immigrated to the U.S.A. from the Dominican Republic at the age of 19, when Ronald Reagan was President (1981 to 1989). He still has family in the Jarabacoa town where he grew up. More recently, Quezada was a hard-working shopkeeper operating a bodega for the past six years (which he has since retired from and put up for sale). According to his attorney, Paul Fernandez, Quezada wants to create a foundation for homeless children here and in the Dominican Republic.
Powerball Satisfies Child Support Arrears
With support arrears dating back four years, a child support arrest warrant was issued against Quezada in 2009. Once news of his big score was released, he had the good sense to hire an attorney. One of the first family law issues to be addressed was non-payment of child support and the arrest warrant.
A judge stayed the arrest warrant and, on Monday, April 1, the deadbeat dad appeared in a Passaic County, NJ, Superior Court. At the hearing, through a Spanish interpreter, Quezada made good on his past due child support with $30,000, more than the $29,490 he owed (including penalties and interest). Well, it isn’t as though he had a choice.
Just as in Tennessee, the State of New Jersey has authority to intercept lottery winnings to pay down past due child support. The amount that this dad owed would be satisfied by the lottery winnings before he ever received a single penny. The New Jersey Lottery Division pays off past due child support obligations first and, if there is anything left, the balance to the actual winner. In this case, of course, there was plenty left over. Which brings us to some substantial changes in this father’s lifestyle.
Will This Father Seek to Modify Child Custody?
Now that he’s paid off his back child support and is free from arrest, this former deadbeat dad has indicated that he wants his children to move in with him. Although only three of his five children are still minors (two boys and three girls, their ages range from five to 23), he stated that “[m]y children are going to be living with me from now on.” That was his statement through an English-Spanish interpreter to the judge of the Passaic County Family Court.
Most of us have heard stories about the lottery winners who burn through their millions in no time, often filing for bankruptcy with high debts and no cash. The family law judge impressed upon this father the importance of being prudent with his new-found wealth:
“There are going to be a lot of people who are going to ask you to invest in things because of your good fortune… but investing in your children is the wisest investment that you’ll make.”
Need information about child custody modifications under Tennessee law? Read our article on How to Change Custody in Tennessee.
Child Support Modification May Be Next
Given this father’s increased income, child support may be revisited fairly soon as he still has three minor children. Currently, he is under orders to pay about $560 per month. If Quezada’s youngest children do indeed move in with their father, then the amount of child support may be recalculated with the change in custody arrangements. Otherwise, the children’s mother could petition the court for modification of child support orders. According to reports, the children have lived with their father from time to time and Quezada has maintained a good relationship with the other parent.
To learn about child support modification under Tennessee law, take a look at Tennessee Child Support Modification Law | How to Modify Child Support.
Child Custody Modification Lawyers in Memphis TN
The Miles Mason Family Law Group handles Tennessee divorce, child support, alimony, child custody, and parent relocation. To schedule your confidential consultation, call us today at (901) 683-1850.
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