Welcome! | Ask A Question

 
 
 
 
Question

Asked 6/15/2010

Unwed Father's Rights in TN

I just recently found out that I have an 8 yr old son. The mother, an ex-girlfriend, wants $20,000 in back child support as well as $400/month child support for a child I didn't even know existed until about 6 months ago. I contested the back child support on grounds I didn't even know I had a child, but the court still wants me to pay. Also, the mother does NOT want me to even see my child - she just wants the money. At the beginning, the mother told me she wanted me to sign over my parental rights to her husband; a man she married shortly after the child was born. Now with my name on the birth certificate (after DNA confirmation, which I would like to retake) the state is requiring me to pay up on a child I didn't even know I had.

Where are my rights? Mothers seemed to have plenty of rights: the right to abort, the right to give the child up for adoption and the right to keep it. What rights do I have? I have been devastated and appalled by the child support laws. Where are the investigations or the checks and balances of such cases? Why out of 8 years does the mother now want child support? Again, where are MY rights?

Can there not be a time limit law in place for unwed mothers who are expecting and DO give birth that they have at least up to 3 years (maximum) to pursue any type of child support? After 3 years have expired they forfeit any type of child support from the paternal father, this implying that the father also forfeits any rights to the child

 
 
 
 
 
Answers

Answer 1/3 - Submitted 6/15/2010

Sounds alot like grasping for strwas basically you have to ask yourself this do you want to claim this child if you sign your rights away you probably wonn't have to pay anything future or back you could file a appeal and talk to the judge about the situation and air your concerns to them this would be where they listen to you

 
 

Answer 2/3 - Submitted 6/15/2010

You can appeal any judge's ruling and while I agree with you you shouldn't have to pay when the mother withheld information this long and married shortly after the birth. You can have another independent lab redo the DNA but I sincerely doubt any lab is going to be part and parcel to a fraud. There also has to be a little give and take in the support but no visitation. It is also possible that her hubby may have known about the paternity which makes him culpable to you for withholding such info. Whatever you do, remember the child in the midle of this fight. Keep her at arm's length so she's out of the line of fire. Get yourself an attorney who can get things brought down to a level playing field. If you can afford an attorney there are pro bono (free work) attorneys in the state county and city. Google and start round two

 
 

Answer 3/3 - Submitted 7/6/2010

1st...your child needs food, clothing, and shelter daily. Not just within the three year time limit you suggest. The oarent who is providing 100% of their support has the right to ask you to contribute at any time. You are out of luck there. You may receive consideration because you were unaware of the child, but that is difficult to prove. More likely than not, you will be paying back child support.

2nd... What do you think is wrong with your genetic testing? Even if you believe that mother somehow manipulated the test, all she has access too you are her and the child's samples at the time when they are taken. Unless she tracked down some other kid you fathered and had them swabbed, that is your child. Genetic testing is a multi-billion dollar industry. No lab is going to face fraud charges and lose its credabillity just to nail you.

 
 
 
 
Answer This Question Now

Type your Answer in the box below and post your answer.

Learn more about how this works

 
 
 

Related Questions (Ask a New Question)

 
Unwed father's rights.

I have a child that i don't know. the mom and child live in n.c. and i'd like to get to the point to where my child spends summers with me in or. what's the first step, the mom cut all communication the day the first child support check was sent 7 years ago.

See Answers

 
What are my rights if i'm an unwed mother and the father doesn't want to be involved?

I'm an unwed, and currently pregnant, and the father doesn't want any involvement with the child. by law, what rights do i have to child support, parental involvement?

See Answers

 
Granparent custody and child support

In ohio, if the father's parents are awarded his visitation rights can the grandparents then be compelled to pay the father's child support obligation?

See Answers

 
Related Questions

Unwed father's rights.


I have a child that i don't know. the mom and child live in n.c. and i'd like to get...

 

What are my rights if i'm an unwed mother and the father doesn't want to be involved?


I'm an unwed, and currently pregnant, and the father doesn't want any involvement...

 

Granparent custody and child support


In ohio, if the father's parents are awarded his visitation rights can the grandparents...

 

Unwed mothers rights


My fiance was never married to her two girl's father . he pays child support and has...

 

I want to move out of the country and i'm unwed


I'm an unwed mother to a 2 and half year old boy. i want to move over to the uk to finish...

 

Family rights


I have full custody, the father of my two kids is not around and don't pay child support....

 
 

See more Child Support questions

 
 
 
 
 

Ask A Question

Ask a new question about
Child Support: