There is no other way to get child support other than going into court and getting guardianship. The father is most certainly still supposed to be paying child support but without a court order then there is no way to enforce that. If you can't afford an attorney you may want to see if you qualify for Legal Aid. You can go to their website at www.lrs.gov and look up the office nearest you. Give them a call and if you are not eligible for their services many times they can refer you to an agency that can.

I wish the very best to you and your nephew. He is so very lucky to have a wonderful and caring Aunt like you who was willing to step up and make sure that he has the best of care after the death of your sister.

Hi, Pit1234, and welcome to WebAnswers.

You should petition the local court for custody of the child, and that can be done without the need for an attorney, as the forms and instructions you need are available online for your state. You will need to have custody in order to enforce child support. It appears unlikely that the father would contest such a petition, and, if he did, the court would likely laugh him out of the courthouse.

As for the father, his requirement to pay child support did NOT end when his ex died. You should also file a petition for contempt to insure that he pays back child support.

I hope this helps you. Best wishes for you and your nephew. Thank you for choosing WebAnswers as your source™.

It addressed my direct concern about my lack of financial funds to become legal guardian and also what to do about the missed child support payments. If there is a way to thank both of them responders, I'd like to do so. I appreciate their input very much.

Thank you, Pit1234, for awarding my answer. I am happy that WebAnswers has helped you.