Legal Question in Family Law in Virginia

Options to Consider

I live in DC and girlfriend lives in VA. She spends most her time at my place. We got pregnant and she plans to have the child and i prefer abortion. Here are my questions:

1) is there a legal agreement that we can put in place before child birth that states that i will give up paternal rights and she will not pursue child support?

2) if not married, what happens before, at and after child birth from a legal perspective (who files for paternity test and how is child support litigated/decided)? is there an equation or depends on each situation.

3) i have good job, she has lots of money in the bank. she was married once before (6 months), no kids, lives home with her father and low income level (or no job after child birth). sounds like i have to pay a lot even if i want abortion?

4) what is max child support payment for dc and va?

Thanks.


Asked on 7/23/07, 12:58 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Options to Consider

Yeah, you got it, i.e., you're going to have to pay child support once you're found by a court to be the father of the child, and you'll most likely be paying for 18 years or even longer if the child goes to college---irrespective of the fact that you wanted the mother to have an abortion.

And, no, you're not going to be able to weasel out of your obligations by signing a so-called waiver of paternal rights prior to the birth of this child. No court would ever accord any legal recognition to such a document.

(After all, the little one who is on the way does need--and is entitled--to a father--one way or the other.)

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Answered on 7/23/07, 5:40 pm


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