Legal Question in Family Law in Arizona
Financial Support by 16 Year Old Father
My niece, who is 16, has found that she is pregnant, delivery estimated to be in July. Her father asked the family of the boy who she had sex with if they would be willing to provide financial (and other) support for the child to be born. The boy is also 16. The answer is that they would not provide any support for the child, financial or otherwise.
What financial responsibility to support his child does the boy have? Is there a non-profit or government agency that can assist my niece in obtaining support? (Phoenix area)
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Financial Support by 16 Year Old Father
First, she or you should contact the Dept of Economic Security (DES) or the local Attorney General's office, as they offer free legal services to establish paternity and child support orders. Second, the father's parents can be held responsible for the child support, at least until the father turns 18, under Arizona law (A.R.S. 25-810), which states in part "the parent(s) having custody or control of the putative father may be joined as respondents in the action if the putative father is a minor...The parents may be held jointly and severally liable with the minor until the minor reaches the age of majority."