Legal Question in Family Law in Arkansas

child support reimbursement

My husband has been paying child support and medical, dental, vision, and pharmacy insurance on his daughter for five years. It has come to our attention that the child may not be his. If she isn't. Will the mother be liable to repay any child support or medical insurance?


Asked on 11/01/02, 5:32 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Herb Southern The Southern Law Firm

Re: child support reimbursement

Another one of those "it depends" answers ...

IF they were not married and he has no real relationship with the child, a paternity test could let him off the hook for NEW child support, not past support already paid.

However, IF they were married or if he has a relationship with the child, the law tells us that it is more interested in the child than in the mechanics of creation. If he was married and the Court found that the child was a "child of the marriage" then that is that. The principle of res judicata applies. Basically, he could have argued at the time of the divorce that he was not Dad, and did not. He is now barred from relitigating that issue.

Either way, he will not get anything back even if the Court rules in his favor.

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Answered on 11/01/02, 7:38 pm


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