Do you have to pay back child support for a child you never knew about?

Answer 1

If the mother of the child asks the court for a court-ordered genetic test, and the child does turn out to be yours (99.9% accurate) then yes, you will be court ordered to pay child support and any back child support to when the child was born (depending on the statute of limitations on time in your state). In some states, they can only order you to pay back child support a couple of years, in other states, it is all the way back to when the child was born. Good luck. You must support your child, even if you don't want to be in your child's life.

Answer 2

If paternity has been disproved by a blood DNA test then you need to file a petition in family court to have the order relinquished, you can also possibly get the child support you already paid refunded back to you. Good luck.

Answer 3

Yes. If you have been determined to be the father the court can assess back child support depending on state laws. The mother may have been recently made aware that she is entitled to child support. The court will render a decision.

Answer 4

Depending on the judge and state limitations, up to 19 years worth.

I had case involving a man whose now Navy Commander. He got hit with 15 years retroactive child support from a woman he knew back in college, for $85,000. Cost him his home, savings, investments, and 55% of his gross income. He had to move his wife and four boys into a two bedroom, on base apartment. In his case, he didn't even know she had gotten pregnant, as she quit school and went back home.

In another case, a 27-year-old man was ordered to pay 14 years of retroactive child support to the woman who sat with him as a child, when the parents went out. Being that the statute of limitations had run out for her to be charged with anything. The order was upheld on appeal.

You need to do two things right away. You need to contact CSE in your state and inform them that you may have a child in Florida. Find out what projected CS you may need to pay. You can set up a volunteer CS order, but if you later learn you are not the father, you cannot stop paying, period. As such, if you have doubts, and she is uncooperative, you may need to file a motion to force a test. If she is cooperative, there are kits you can order online for doing the test.

By taking the lead, you may not get hit with a retroactive CS order for between now and when the child was born, unless she was on welfare. Also, if you wait for them to file against you, it will be retroactive support, all court costs and her attorney fees, plus possibly 50% of medical costs for the pregnancy.

You need to learn how to hire an attorney, put your evidence together, and what you need to ask for if the child is yours.

Answer 5

Yes. So long as paternity is established, you will have to pay child support. It is not the child's fault that the father and the mother have separated or that the father has never seen the child. Both parents have an obligation to support the child. The only legal way not to pay child support is if one's parental rights are terminated.

Answer 6

Yes. Whether or not you knew about the child doesn't matter- your paternity is what matters. If you brought them into this world then you must support them.

Yes. Whether or not you knew about the child doesn't matter- your paternity is what matters. If you brought them into this world then you must support them.

Yes. Whether or not you knew about the child doesn't matter- your paternity is what matters. If you brought them into this world then you must support them.

Yes. Whether or not you knew about the child doesn't matter- your paternity is what matters. If you brought them into this world then you must support them.

Answer 7

The law in your State might presume that you are the father, if paternity is not established otherwise.

Answer 8

If the DNA test proves the child is yours you have to pay regardless of your feelings towards the child.

Answer 9

Yes. Whether or not you knew about the child doesn't matter- your paternity is what matters. If you brought them into this world then you must support them.

Answer 10

Yes you do.