Is it an Obligation for the father of a child to pay child support if we are not married?

Question

i keep hearing that my bf will have to pay child support because we are not married, however i dont understand why if we are together...is this true

Answer 1

It is potentially true. I guess that it depends on the kind of person that you are. If you were to break up, he could be liable for child support from the time of the birth. If you are not planning on marrying anytime in the near future, it would be best for him to get an order of support in place to protect him. Let's face facts, relationships end every day and it is not always a pretty sight. You could be vindictive for him wronging you in some way and force him to pay more than he should.

Answer 2

This is actually quite simple. But I'm going to answer it a few ways because there's information you are missing. In cases where they both provide insurance the children would have what's called primary and secondary insurance. In many cases the insurance company views the primary carrier based on date of birth, not who the child lives with as custodial parent. Okay, either way, IF the child is covered by both parents insurance there is no co pay. You do not pay co pay when you have dual coverage. You do however split the unpaid medical expenses after both insurance companies have paid everything they are going to pay. In our case we've never had to pay out of pocket, both insurance companies have always taken care of all that was due. Okay, so that's the first thing. Are both parents providing insurance. If so, there is no co pay and they would split any unpaid balance. In the case that one parent is providing insurance then they would split ALL medical/dental/optical/ortho/mental health coverage ONLY if the agreement says they do. And in most cases that is the situation. Just because a parent is getting child support does not mean that would cover medical expenses. Child support barely covers living expenses, music or sports, school needs, etc. The custodial parent ends up paying a ton more than the non custodial. I know this because I've lived as both the custodial and non custodial step parent and I used to not like paying the child support. But once we got custody we realized just how expensive it is. So don't worry, $400 is very reasonable to begin with and secondly, it is common to split all the expenses. Feel free to email me if you have more questions. It appears you are being attacked here which makes no sense. Your question is quite reasonable. Good Luck.

Answer 3

It is true... the government can make him pay child support, even if you are living together (and even if you are married living together) if you receive funds from Welfare or similar government subsidation. My best friend went through this when she and her husband were first married. They had been married for 3 years when they started attaching her husband's wages and sending her a check. Mind you, they were married, living in the same household, with the child! So, basically, the money made one giant, pain-in-the-butt circle to get the same money back to the child. It took nearly a year for them to get it sorted out. It doesn't matter that you are together now... the government is looking into the future to make sure that the child's rights are upheld. They will establish the child's paternity so that in the future, should you two not be together, the child will still have support from both parents. To be certain, you can talk with the Family Court near you to find out specifics in your state.

Answer 4

Well, it is best to go through the courts because it protects you both.

If you break up, the court already has the established support set up, and there won't be any interruption in the income you need to pay for your baby.

It also protects the father, because the way the laws are written, he could be with you and pay for everything, but unless it goes through the courts, it doesn't count.

For example, say he supported you and payed for everything the baby needed for the first two years of your child's life, and then you broke up. Say it was a bitter break up, you could go to court, and since none of that support went through the court system, you could demand back child support for those two years, even though he was supporting the baby. Not that you personally would use the law to punish him that way, but many women do. There's also no way to predict how you would react in that situation, without being in the situation.

So, while you don't have to file for child support through the state, you should so that a third party knows what's going on and you both are protected.

Answer 5

Usually whoever is taking care of and providing for the child requests support from the other parent. For example, when my bf and I were living together, we split the rent and bills and babysitter costs. Now that we have been apart, he doesn't feel the necessity of contributing ANYTHING! If I chose to, I would go to court to request support, because I shouldn't be the only one providing for our child. If you are together, it usually isn't an issue, unless your bf is irresponsible and won't help out with anything at all.

Answer 6

If you are together he doesn't have to pay child support. It's only if you break up he would still be responsible for supporting his child. It doesn't matter if you are married or not!

Answer 7

For as long as you are together, there is no reason to think that anyone has to be paying anyone else support.

However if you break up, then yes, it is true. His obligation is to his child, not to you.

That is of course, assuming that you get custody. Otherwise you may be paying him support.

Answer 8

The only time they will make him pay even though you are together is if you are getting some kind of govt assistance. Other than that they dont order child support unless you file for it

Answer 9

Yes it is, have a DNA test for paternity as soon as the child is born.
If it proves indeed to be his child, he needs to be responsible not only financially, but in parenting the child.
The father should be encouraged to participate in the child's up-bring, including region, schooling etc.
Never threaten to with hold visiting right to the father , for any reason, including non payment of child support.
Remember he had a role in creating this child, too.

Answer 10

living together, maybe- maybe not, but married or not... yes he does have to pay. thats his child and he can not just walk away from the cost of one.

the state and federal government are tired of parents not paying for their kids, so they passed stronger laws to protect the rights of the child(ren). there are no fathers rights in court, no mothers rights in court, just the childs rights (are what are most important). the childs needs comes before ALL of us, period.

some fathers contest or question if the child is really theirs, so a DNA test is ordered. no more disputes about it after the results are in. then incomes are calculated (both parents incomes in most states; and if one parent doesnt work, they put an income in for them), and a child support amount is ordered.

here is a child support calculator; just click on your state and fill it in. this will give a general idea what will be paid. other things can effect the amount, such as time with the child, daycare expenses, medical insurance and more. so check with the other links below and find your states guidelines (each state is slightly different with the guidelines).

ALL of these links are to help you, as a parent;
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http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/collectchildsupport

http://www.wantedposters.com/deadbeats_usa_a_to_f.htm
http://www.deadbeatjustice.com/list.htm

http://www.divorcelawinfo.com/states.htm
http://www.divorcehq.com/spprtgroups.html

http://www.divorceinfo.com/statebystate.htm
http://www.divorcenet.com/states
http://www.divorcesource.com/
http://www.divorcecentral.com/
http://www.divorcelawinfo.com/calculators.htm
http://www.helpyourselfdivorce.com/child-support-calculators.html
http://family.findlaw.com/
http://www.divorcehq.com/deadbeat.html
http://www.divorceinfo.com/
http://www.divorceinanutshell.com/
http://www.lawchek.com/Library1/_books/domestic/qanda/childsupp.htm
http://family.findlaw.com/child-support/support-laws/state-child-/
http://www.supportguidelines.com/resources.html
http://www.supportguidelines.com/articles/news.html
http://family.findlaw.com/child-support/support-basics/

http://www.ncsea.org/
http://www.nfja.org/index.shtml

FACTS AND REGIONAL FEDERAL CS OFFICE INFO
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/opa/fact_sheets/cse_factsheet.html
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/newhire/fop/passport.htm
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/newhire/fop/fop.htm
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/newhire/faq/faq.htm
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/oro/regions/acf_regions.html
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.html
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/grants/grants_cse.html
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/index.html
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/region2/index.html
http://www.fms.treas.gov/faq/offsets_childsupport.html
http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal
http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/
http://www.fedworld.gov/gov-links.html

FIND YOUR STATE REPS
http://www.usa.gov/
http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/State_and_Territories.shtml
http://www.nga.org
http://www.naag.org/attorneys_general.php

CHILD SUPPORT LIEN NETWORK
(some states work with them)
http://www.childsupportliens.com/

COLLECTORS
http://www.supportkids.com/
http://www.supportcollectors.com/faq.php

TAX INFO
http://www.taxsites.com/index.htm
http://www.divorceinfo.com/taxes.htm
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc354.html
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc422.html
http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq4-5.html
http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html
http://www.irs.gov/advocate/index.html
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p525/index.html
http://www.fms.treas.gov/faq/offsets_childsupport.html

SEX OFFENDERS
http://www.mapsexoffenders.com/
http://www.scanusa.com/
http://www.nsopr.gov/
http://www.familywatchdog.us/Default.asp

http://www.mowaa.org/
http://modestneeds.org/
http://freecycle.org/
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf
http://www.redcross.org/where/chapts.asp

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