oh this just sucks! It's so unfortunate that we hear these stories and these people are the reason that home daycares have so many policies. I'm so sorry this happened.

If it were me I would probably do up a letter and email and send through registered mail threatening with legal action. Make sure you word it all official, like you've already consulted with a lawyer... maybe that will make her pay up. Offer her ways to pay you, one of them being email transfer, she may be more likely to pay if she doesn't have to come face to face with you.

And yes! Hold her reciept until year end and don't even address it with her until she's payed you.

Do you have any of her belongings? extra clothes, diapers wipes etc? Make sure you mention those if you do, give a date to pick up other wise they're going in the donation bin.

Lesson learned... if you are going above and beyond and offer crazy hours like working 7 days a week, have it paid up front or hold a deposit for last 2 weeks of care.