Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

If someone abandons a child, would it be possible for the child, after he/she has reached adulthood (21 years old), to seek back child support, or for the child's parent to do so? The child's birth certificate has no father listed so I presume it would first have to be proven that the person in question is indeed the father.


Asked on 11/09/09, 10:18 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mark Dunn Mark D. Dunn

The child himself wouldn't pursue back child support, since child support is never payable to a child - it's ordered paid to an adult caretaker (usually a parent).

The general rule in paternity cases is that retroactive child support goes back only four years (154.131 of the Family code).

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Answered on 11/16/09, 10:03 am


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