Father never paid child support?

Question

My mom was a proud woman and didn't go after my dad for not paying child support but she died when i was 12 and I was never granted a legal guardian after that, my father has never paid or gave any money though out my childhood sadly i am 22 now and i was wondering what legal ways i can go to get my father to pay for some of his responiblity that was owe when i was under 18

to give a better explanation to why I want to do this is because I personally had to raise myself after my mom died when i turn 15 i became on my own since there was no official legal guardian so i DID incurred the cost of rasing myself and it was not easy and my mother did't want my father to have anything to do with me cause he was a bad influence which i a agree but i dont think she would have made the same choice if she would have known that she was going to die at age 32 and it really isnt about the money it is the princible is there any civil law avenues i can take?

it is very funny how people assume that i dont have a job which i do i am also in college as well something that is a little hard when you dont have a parent to help you out,

Answer 1

i would say you have a pretty good chance of winning a case like that. it adds up, no matter what.

contact your local Legal Aid Office. they are in every state and most counties. they go on a sliding scale so its free to most. look in the phone book, call your county court clerks office, or your states Bar Assoc for the number.

go down to the county court clerks office (or call) and ask them what pro se motions you need to fill out for a matter like this one. they will tell you what documents you need... if any. he would have to prove he paid, so burden of proof would be on him.

you could also write a short letter (explaining what you did here) to the FEDERAL Child Support Office (regional- link is below). FAX it. mail ends up piled up, so fax's are your best bet.

some links. find your reps, if you need them. keep up the good work with your schooling... its your ticket to a better life.

mom of 4

FACTS AND REGIONAL FEDERAL CS OFFICE INFO
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/fct/fct4.htm
http://www.divorcesource.com/WI/ARTICLES/beaulier11.html
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/opa/fact_sheets/cse_factsheet.html
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/newhire/index.html
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/faq.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
http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/pfs92/ch3.htm

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
http://www.deadbeatdadfinders.com/
http://www.deadbeatdadfinders.com/links.html
http://www.childsupport-aces.org/index2.html
http://www.divorcesource.com/info/deadbeat/deadbeat.shtml

Answer 2

Unless he was ordered by a court to pay child support he probably has no legal responsibility to you. The state should of went after him when your Mom died. My cousin had a baby out of wedlock and since she didn't want the father to have any legal standing in the child's life she didn't even put him on the birth certificate. Occasionally mother's do shut out the fathers asking nothing from them to maintain total control over the child. your mother may have felt that your Dad would be a bad influence on you and wanted you to have nothing to do with him. If you think that was the case--you can talk to her family and friends about this you might choose to honor her wishes.

Answer 3

If there was an existing support order lodged through the courts, your MOTHER can claim the arrears plus accumulated interest. If you're enrolled in full time college, your support may still be active. If there was no such order, it's very unlikely she can make a claim (only a few states allow that). You and your sister never had nor ever will have, any clam against your father.

Answer 4

my father never was there for 18 years and even when he was ordered for child support. I'm glad I take after my mother and am having a baby soon and can never be like my father. I'm also looking for ways to file on him.

Answer 5

if your father was not ordered any court orders to pay child support whether it was by your moms doing or not ?
please forget all of this , it is in your past ,and i am sure you did well without him .perhaps your mother had her reason for doing this ? i do not know ?
let your pass be behind you ....besides ? if he did not care enough not to even visit you ? what makes you think he will care for you now ?
there are some very good fathers out there .not saying yours was not , for i know him not .........but all means .........let him where he is .........be proud of yourself and do without him still ..........show yourself ,that even without him .you will be a MAN :-)
you cannot force one ,even you father , to take care of you ....
stand up and do things for you .;worry not about him , for the way you described your story ? no hope ..
sorry , but life goes on ........:-)
one must learn , not to want things from others ..........

Answer 6

someone named "pimpmehard" wants us to give him or her a serious answer....brilliant!

Depending on the laws in your state, you might be SOL....USUALLY the person can go back 2 years after support was to end (in this case, probably age 18, but double check the divorce decree, some of them say 21, etc)...But being that he never paid a dime, you MIGHT be able to collect IF there's a valid support order.
Call an attorney--someone you or someone else know, just dont pick one out of the phone book.

Answer 7

You are no longer a minor and any suit asking to declare paternity and support must be before the 18th birthday. It was not you who incurred the costs of your upbringing anyway.

Answer 8

Just call a lawyers office and schedule a free consult.

Answer 9

you can collect all the child support that was owed to you as long as their was a court order.

Answer 10

Consult an attorney - laws vary from state to state. Good luck.