He was put on child support at just 12 years old. By the time Lionel “TJ” Tillman learned what had happened, he says he was already $24,000 in debt—despite the court determining that he had not reached puberty when the child was conceived. After fighting the case for more than two decades, proving that the process involved extrinsic fraud, and eventually recovering his money, TJ is no longer focused solely on his personal battle. Now, he is taking the system to Congress. In this powerful episode of Inside the Vault with Ash Cash, TJ introduces the proposed Bringing Families Back Together and Child Support Equity Act of 2027—a bill created to promote equal parenting, due process, financial fairness, transparency, and healthier relationships between children and both fit and present parents. Ash and TJ examine some of the most controversial questions surrounding family court and child support: Can someone be held financially responsible without being the biological father? Why are some parents learning about child-support orders only after their wages are garnished? Are government incentives helping families—or rewarding separation? And why should a parent who is actively fighting to be present automatically be treated like an absent parent? TJ also makes one thing clear: this is not a “get out of responsibility” movement. He believes parents who refuse to support their children should be held accountable. His fight is for fairness, equal parenting, proper notice, due process, and a system that puts the well-being of children ahead of conflict between adults. This is not about mothers versus fathers. It is about choosing the children. Watch until the end to learn how you can support the petition, help bring the proposed legislation before Congress, and become part of a national movement to strengthen families. Sign the petition: change.org/childrenneedboth Chapters 00:00 – He was put on child support at 12 years old 01:08 – Message for entrepreneurs, coaches and business owners 02:05 – Protecting the family is a generational investment 03:04 – The Bringing Families Back Together and Child Support Equity Act 03:55 – “Take care of your children—this is not a free pass” 05:21 – Who is Lionel “TJ” Tillman? 05:38 – Put on child support at 12 and $24,000 in debt 06:32 – Could he have biologically fathered the child? 07:15 – Declared the legal father despite the court’s findings 08:53 – Why outdated policies need to change 09:34 – Why TJ is taking the system to Congress 10:12 – Education, policy and prevention 11:18 – Does due process apply in family court? 11:51 – Equal parenting should begin at birth 12:53 – Georgia’s legitimation process explained 14:11 – The $755 million child-support incentive claim 15:11 – Why TJ is pursuing federal reform 15:45 – Incentivizing families to stay together 17:25 – No parent should have to fight for their children 17:46 – Fathers ask for joint legal and physical custody 18:34 – How public assistance affected the family structure 19:35 – Who determines whether a parent is fit? 21:18 – Why must parents fight for more time with their children? 22:00 – “You want support, but you don’t want support” 22:29 – TJ announces The Family Code podcast 22:39 – The hidden trauma families refuse to discuss 24:02 – Why TJ challenges the child-support system 24:17 – The Fourteenth Amendment and parental rights 26:47 – How claims can be presumed valid until challenged 27:43 – Proper notice before enforcement actions 28:17 – Discovering child support through wage garnishment 30:00 – Finding out on payday that half his check was gone 32:10 – Personal service versus substitute service 33:13 – Vindication after a 22-year fight 34:00 – The forged signature and vacant-house service 35:00 – Paying child support for 11 years 37:26 – Filing an insurance claim against Los Angeles County 38:30 – How TJ finally recovered his money 39:20 – Helping parents challenge their cases 40:15 – Why he refuses to assist irresponsible parents 41:41 – Raising his daughter as a single father 43:00 – Why children may need both parents 44:40 – The child-support-to-prison pipeline 46:47 – Are urban communities being disproportionately targeted? 48:14 – Is TJ trying to weaken child-support laws? 48:34 – Child support should apply to absent parents 49:22 – Equal parental rights and the “noncustodial” label 50:00 – Handling difficult co-parenting and parental alienation 51:10 – Support beyond money: emotional and physical presence 52:00 – Parenting education, therapy and conflict resolution 54:00 – What America could look like if the bill passes 56:47 – How viewers can support the proposed legislation 57:17 – TJ’s direct appeal to Congress 58:25 – This is not men versus women 58:36 – Putting children ahead of pride and conflict 59:41 – “This is not an attack on women, men or child support” 1:00:04 – How to connect with TJ and the foundation 1:00:32 – Closing the Vault