The child, whom I never see, is not biologically mine, although i took responsibility for her when she was born. Now,16, she has dropped out of school and got herself pregnant. Am I still responsible for her?
2007-10-10 06:47:29 · 9 answers · asked by nmbshag 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Taht isa complex question.
I have seen simliar cases discussed in the news the last few years.
Sometimes a father has been held to be legaly responsible and sometimes not even if bio-paternity is disproved.
I think you are going to need an family law attorney that specializes in this abstract matter if in fact you can disprove bio-paternity. It seems to be an area of the law that is very unsttled and evolving rapidly. A regular lawyer won't be up to date on the details.
BTW, have you ever thought if there is a connection between the choas of not having a real father in her life and her getting pregnant?
Why were you not there as anything other then a bank account all these years?
Especially since I am sure her Mom is a piece of work.
2007-10-10 06:55:30 · answer #1 · answered by Barry C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The questions are: Is there a court order in effect regarding child support? Is she emancipated? Is she on her own? If so, then you may be off the hook. If she's not emancipated, then yes you are, unless you go to court, get DNA and prove you're not responsible for her. Whether you ever see her or not is irrelevant, and probably your loss. Whether she has dropped out of school and got pregnant is irrelevant. Whether you approve of her behavior is irrelevant and rather arrogant considering you took responsibility and never see her. Is there a court order of child support? If so, and she's still with the person to whom you are ordered to pay it, then YES. And if this pregnant child is not with her, and there's a court order, you need to go to court to have child support terminated due to emancipation of the child.
2007-10-10 07:01:59 · answer #2 · answered by chatsplas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is there a Court order or are you just paying out of the goodness of your heart?
If there is no court order or agreement between you and her mother you can stop paying support, however since you have paid support for an extended period of time and have acted in the place of a parent, the mother could apply to the courts for an order of support and win.
If she is working and not in school she could be considered self supporting and no longer in need of support - that being said, if there is an order for support you will have to apply to terminate or vary it prior to stopping your support payments.
If she is not working and still living with the mother, you may not have a basis to apply to have the support payments stopped, however you can still apply. You should speak to a lawyer in your state with respect to same.
2007-10-10 07:26:52 · answer #3 · answered by elysialaw 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are paying through child support enforcement or through the courts then you need to get proof from the school that she dropped out.
Show the proof to the cse or courts and get her emancipated and your payments will end.
If you are paying directly to the mother then I would still petition the courts to have emancipated.
Go and talk to a cse face to face and discuss this.
2007-10-10 07:03:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you legally adopt her? Is your name on the birth certificate? if the answer is no to these questions then I don't see how you can be held responsible for child support. It appears to me that you have already gone above and beyond by paying what you did.
2007-10-10 06:56:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you adopt her? If yes you are legally obligated. Maybe this is where she needs you the most! Did you know a dad is the most important factor in a girls choice of future relationships? Did you abandon her when you split with her mom? Do you love her? Maybe you can make a difference for the better here.
2007-10-10 07:05:35 · answer #6 · answered by ReBelle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you took responsibility for her then yup you are responsible for her until the age of 18 (21 in NY) or until she become legally emancipated.
2007-10-10 06:54:45 · answer #7 · answered by Susie D 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HOW did you take responsibility for her?
In what state is the support order issued?
2007-10-10 06:56:12 · answer #8 · answered by hexeliebe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your name is on her cert. then yeah I think you are responcible. Call your county court house family law office and ask. They will def know and could prob help you out.
2007-10-10 06:51:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋