Legal Question in Family Law in South Carolina
Back child support and visitation
Back in the summer of 1995, a girl that I had been with told me that she was pregnant and that the child was mine. Before I changed duty stations I told her where I was going and she informed me that I wasn't the only one that could be the father. She was also in the military at the time. The child was born in Oct 1995 and then in Dec 96 I finally got paternity papers. It took until Dec 98 to find out the child was mine. Do I have to pay for the back support or support at all, because I gave up parental rights to the child? If so am I entitle to know where the child is living to have contact with him?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Back child support
Yes, if you are the father you are required to pay
child support from the date the child was born, regardless
of whether or not you gave up your parental rights.
You are entitled to know where your child is and have
a say in her upbringing. I am assuming the mother
has already filed paternity papers with the court.
The court will now decided the child support payments
based on your pay and the mother's pay. The court
will probably file to have the payments taken out
of your paycheck. They will also ask that they two
of you set up a visitation schedule.
Re: Back child support and visitation
You may not unilaterally give up rights to a child of your body. Support is owed from the time she files for support in most states. Lying in expenses are usually in addition to support for children born out of wedlock. If you are the father, you are entitled to know where the child is and you are entitled to partial and legal custody. See a lawyer to protect those rights.
Related Questions & Answers
Looking for something else?
10,200 active attorneys ready to answer your legal questions today.
Featured Attorneys
Earn additional revenue and grow your business.
