At least in my state, one big mistake you made is paying her directly. I hope what you meant is you paid through the child support services directly so it can be duly noted that you paid. If not, she can argue that the money was for something else, you were paying her back for something, or whatever she wants to say about the money. You could argue it in court if you had to, but it's always advisable to avoid that if possible. Don't underestimate what some spouses receiving child support are capable of.
In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. Abraham Lincoln
It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. Theodore Roosevelt
