Child support?

Question

My brother and I are in disagreement here and I hope someone can help. Our parents got divorced when we were young, and now we are both over 18 (I'm 22 he is 20) our sister is 17. Our father owes our mother a lot of money in child support. My brother seems to think that debt should be absolved because we are over 18. I disagree. I think he still owes my mother this money even if the amount stopped accumulating when we turned 18. Who is right?

Answer 1

By law, YOU are correct. Just because the children reach the age of majority, this does not mean that debt your father accumulated just disappears honey. Think about this logically, for argument's sake. Your mother did whatever she had to do to raise you three children without the help of your father. Children are expensesive, and if he was ordered to pay a percentage towards the cost of raising his children, and he didn't, then that means he still needs to repay your mother for carrying his share of the financial responsibility. The order did not say the mom is to raise the children on her own with no financial help from the father. The court ordered him to pay and even though so much time has passed, that doesn't mean that debt disappears. I can understand your bother's need to defend his father, but he also needs to face reality. His father, was a dead-beat dad who left mom to shoulder all the responsiblity on her own...in doing so, I think she not only deserves the money he still owes, but she also deserves some respect and credit for doing it on her own from your brother.

Answer 2

Nancy, your right and your brother is wrong. Your father was obligated to pay child support for his kids until they're 18, 19 and a half if they go to college. Just because he didn't pay the support, doesn't mean that it gets absolved. The court system still has a record of how much he owes in arrearages and will eventually get it as long as he works at an employer that deducts taxes from his paycheck. Unless he tries to be sneaky and works under the table for the rest of his life, your mom should eventually get whats owed to her. I hope this clears up your discussion.

Answer 3

It depends on your state but the majority of states do not forgive child support arrears. But ask your brother if your Mother has a major debt that has accrued because the lack of support shouldn't that be paid off? Maybe that will help him see the light.

We wouldn't want to encourage people to run away from the obligations until their kids are 18 to avoid supporting their kids. What good would that do the system... also what if the state was supporting the children the whole time he was not, shouldn't the state be paid back?

You are right!!! :)

Answer 4

In the state of Texas that debt is never absolved until it is paid in full. I think there are ways that your mother could sign off on it or just not push the issue to collect it.

I can't imagine other states absolving the debt either since your mother DID have to support you and is technically owed the money for doing so.

Answer 5

I can tell you how it was with me when I was getting mine, but it may be different in other states.

When I was getting mine, he got behind in his and she turned 18, I had to push the issue but I did continue getting it passed the age of 18. Plus there was interest paid on it after it was all paid in full and I got that as well.

If your dad was behind in yours and you brothers support as well, then yes he still has to pay that as well. I have saw cases where the child was 30 and still the support had to be paid. But most of the time and it should be this way, the mom gets the money not the kids as she is the one that supported you. So that is her reimbursement in part of what it cost her to raise her kids.

Answer 6

He is obligated to pay....Think about it child support is support to the children underage, since he did not pay her while you all were growing up she had to front the entire bill so the fact she supported you and he did not does not go away cause you all are grown. He still owes from when you all were minors and I would demand payment.

Answer 7

depends on the state and government with some it does dissolve unfortunatley but it shouldn't the money owed should be paid to your mother for supporting you for years

Answer 8

if he never paid the money, then hell yea he should still be obligated to pay up. just because you grew up means hes off the hook? i dont think so...but i dont know what the courts think. you should look it up on the internet

Answer 9

i think you are right. BUT this depends on state/local laws and the judge that ultimately decides the case.