Thanks for replying. I talked to my mom about what would happen if my dad did start paying regulary, and she did say that I'd get a small portion of the money. You have no idea how happy that would make me --- I'm obsesseively collecting things to use on my puppy (that I won't even be getting until spring 2006! ). My mom just said she'll talk to her friend who is a social worker, and maybe they can work something out...