After his children "abandoned" him -- and refused to respond to his calls and text messages -- James Saunders wanted to end his support obligations for his two children, ages 14 and 17.
When the Oneida County Family Court court granted that request, an appeal to the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, followed.
Only children of "employable age" may forfeit their right to support. So while the 17-year old could opt out, the 14-year old wasn't able to do so.
Yet, despite their reluctance to interact with him, since neither the children nor their mother engaged in a "deliberate frustration" of his rights, the father couldn't be relieved of his child-support requirements.
Saunders sure must have been frustrated with that.
To download a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: Matter of Saunders v. Aiello