Legal Question in Family Law in Indiana

Re: Obligations of a unweds father before and after the birth

She sounds like she's going to be a handful.

If he CHOOSES to help her with her living expenses before the baby is born, it's a gift.

Tell him to make sure he gives her checks or money orders so that he can show he has tried to help, which will make the court sympathetic to his situation.

He is obligated to help pay part of any MEDICAL costs she incurs, but if she's on Medicaid, those will be minimal or non-existent.

He does NOT owe her a place to live, utilities, whatever, because he is not married to her. If they were married, there's more of a duty there.

Yes, he will have to pay support, but it will be based on his income compared to what she would earn if she worked. If she chooses not to work, that's fine, but the court will probably still impute income to her (assign an amount that she COULD earn, if she chose to work). The only other factors will be child care costs, health insurance costs for the baby and a visitation credit. Otherwise, the child support calculation is purely mathematical.

If he's interested in having a relationship with the baby, he needs to get paternity established --getting his name on the birth certificate, completing a paternity affidavit and getting on the putative father registry.

Otherwise, she can deny him his rights to the child and could even adopt out the child without his knowledge or consent.

Hope this answer helps.