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Leonardo and Susana met when they were in college and began a romantic relationship. They decided to move in together and start a new life. They wanted to have children, but only after graduating and starting their careers.
Shortly after finishing their studies, Susana became pregnant with Leonardo's child, and their son Samuel was born. At first, everything was wonderful, but the couple argued constantly, which led Leonardo and Susana to end their relationship once Samuel turned three. At first, Leonardo visited his son regularly and gave Susana some money for the child's needs, but it was not enough to cover the expenses required to raise a child of that age.
Susana decided to talk to Leonardo and, with the accounts on the table, divide up how much each of them owed and how much they would have to contribute to Samuel's maintenance. At first, Leonardo began to give her what had been agreed for their son, but his visits became less and less frequent, sometimes yes, sometimes no.
Over time, Leonardo began to say that he “had problems at work,” that he “had no money,” and that “she had to manage on her own,” justifying his lack of commitment to visiting his son and paying the agreed-upon amount.
Susana was already exhausted: she was working double shifts to cover school and food expenses, while Samuel was asking why his father no longer visited him. She decided to talk to Leonardo again to get him to commit to Samuel, who was ultimately the one who mattered, but unfortunately they couldn't reach an agreement and their relationship deteriorated even further.
Tired of Leonardo's indifference and with no talks in sight, Susana went to the Arbitration and Conciliation Center of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce to set child support payments.
They were quickly summoned to a conciliation hearing. During the hearing, Leonardo tried to evade his responsibility by saying he was unemployed. However, the conciliator explained that, according to the law, child support does not depend on his willingness but on the child's needs and his actual financial capacity, even if that meant finding formal employment.
The amount was set. Leonardo, annoyed at first, began to comply. Little by little, he understood that it was not about “giving money to Susana,” but about ensuring the well-being of his son Samuel, who also began to enjoy visits and trips to the park with his dad again.
And you, what conflict do you have?
Write to us at infocac@ccb.org.co or visit our website www.centroarbitrajeconciliacion.com and discover why #AnotherFormOfJusticeIsPossible.
