Child Support

Yes, you can request child support from a Canadian citizen if you live in the United States. You will have to have proof of paternity or have a birth certificate that has the Canadian citizens name on it.

An unmarried father cannot "choose" to not pay child support. The laws in every state require that a father pay for the support of his child. The mother must bring an action to the appropriate court so that a child support order can be established. Visitation rights are separate and a father can have visitation rights established by the court. Visitation rights are not dependent on paying child support.

The parent responsible is the one with whom the child is staying with at the time the function occurs, unless, physically or schedule-wise, it's impossible for that parent to take the child to the function. (Parent has to work at that time, cannot drive or does not have their own vehicle). In that case, the other parent should step up to the plate, or make prior arrangements for another relative or friend to take the child. What matters here is what's best for the child, not either parent's resentment. If this issue can't be resolved privately between the parents, a family law attorney or professional mediator should be contacted.

Unless there are unusually circumstances, once a minor becomes an adult under the laws of the state in which he or she lives (or as stated in the support order) child support ends. If he or she has established residence outside the custodial parent's home with the approval of the custodial parent, the obligated parent should petition the court to have the support order amended or rescinded. Child support money is for the support of minor children and not "owed" to the custodial parent. The custodial parent does have the legal right to sue the obligated parent for any arrearages or "extra" expenses incurred while the minor child was in his or her care.

Yes, within the limitations of state law. At the maximum, in Ohio, a mother has until the child turns age 23 to petition the courts to establish paternity and to request 18 years of retroactive child support. In most states the limit is age 18, with an average of 5 years retroactive. Note that in Mississippi, the child is not an adult until age 21.

Yes, altho typically his parent/guardian will need to witness his signature.

The type of incidents mentioned on the discussion page (false reports to child protective services, failure to keep promises, non-payment of child support, not adhering to visitation schedules, badmouthing the mother) are seldom helpful in a custody dispute if they are only presented as allegations. The better option would be to document all events that could be deemed harmful to the child in question. It can be extremely helpful if one can enlist the aid of teachers, counselors, ministers, and so forth, any honest and reputable person who has the child's best interest at heart and would be willing to give unbiased testimony. "Mud-slinging" is NOT the way to convince a judge who is the best parent, nor is submitting false or misleading statements as to someone's character. Family court judges are very good at ferreting out the truth from all parties;those persons who try to make themselves look good while making someone else appear "bad" will not be looked upon favorably by the court.

If you mean can your parents force you to do it, then yes, they can.

Yes-if he is adjudicated as a legal father.

If your children are no longer minors then you don't have to pay child support. However, if a written document was set-up previously that you also pay support for a college education then you have to fulfill this obligation. If you ex-wife left you in her Will (doubtful) she should have stipulations as to what the children will receive from the Estate and this too is an obligation and carried out by an Executor (male), Executrix (female.) The back child support is owed to the estate of the ex wife. She funded the children without that support, robbing them ofmoney that should have been in the estate. If I were the attorney representing her estate or the beneficiaries of that estate, I'd be knocking on your door with a court order!

Generally yes. If the custodial parent moves away from the non-custodial parent, the custodial parent is ordered to make up the extra travel costs the non-custodial parent must now pay.

The principle gives freedom to move, but discourages long-distance moves. In particular it discourages moves that are designed to deny access to the non-custodial parent.

Yes, in some cases and it's up to the courts. For instance: If the mother of the child was pregnant and didn't tell you and you just found out and want to get to know your child and support that child, then the courts will probably move in your favor. However, if you just didn't feel you had any responsibility towards your child and moved on with your life the courts won't look too kindly on you and you WILL have to pay child support as you should. Marcy

Yes. * Maybe. The relative would have to request an investigation from the department of children and family services in the state where the child resides. If the investigation warrants the child being removed from the family home the relative can then petition the court for guardianship rights.

Yes they can. Depending on what state you are in, the legal age has changed from 18 to 17. 17 year olds are considered an adult in Georgia. Not sure of any other state, then they can do what they want. Not in the sense that the police can come and take the minor into custody and return them to the custodial parent. Before action can be taken the custodial parent will either need to file a report with the police that the child is a victim of parental abduction (it is not relevant if the child went willingly). Or the custodial parent will have to file a petition with the court to have the child returned to their custody, in which case the other parent will likely be charged with a contempt of a court order. In regards to Georgia amending the age of majority law to seventeen, that is not quite correct. Georgia has taken the same action that several states have, in that they have amended the juvenile code to designate a seventeen years old as an "adult". This gives the court the power to have said "adult" adjudicated on the same level for most criminal infractions. It also gives the court the power to grant early emancipation rights to those individuals who meet the specified criteria. Therefore, the actual legal age of majority still remains at eighteen (18).

That will be a matter for the court to decide. There are serious issues that need to be addressed, the least of which is the validity of child support payments. However, the parent who is under an child support order must continue to pay until the court modifies or dismisses the order. The legal avenue is, for the father of the fifteen year old to file a petition to have the support order amended. The facts of the situation will be brought to the attention of the court and there could be some serious consequences relating to the circumstances.

If you live in the US (and without knowing the state) generally speaking, adoptive or biological is irrelevant. If there's a will and the child is not named, the child gets nothing, unless they can successfully contest the legality of the will (which takes a strong case).

That is a huge catagory. A couple concepts are that both parents are generally expected to work full time, if able and unless this conflicts with child care, and provide financially for children. Waiving of child support is very difficult, because it is the right of the child. Generally there is a Income Deduction Order. Generally, if the paying parent has more than 40% of overnights, the child support is drastically effected.

no because then ho are u going to spend time with your child unless you have a husband or wife

Once a person adopts a child, they are now the 'parent' or owner of the child. The biological parents would no longer be financially responsible. though both of the biological parents would have to sign the proper adoption documents for this to happen.

• If there is joint custody of the child then the father should be told by the mother where she is going with the child and for how long. If the mother wants to live in another State the courts will have to decide visitation rights. Example: The father has may have the child one or two weeks during the summer; possibly Christmas or alternative Christmas', etc. If the father does not have joint custody then the mother can leave with the child to another State without his permission, but to be fair to the child the father should be informed unless the father has a criminal record; drugs, etc., and is an unfit father.

take her court and get visitation rights.

if there is already an order for visitaion make sure you mark it on a calander time and .then take her for contempt and she can loose custody for withholding...otherwise w/ no visitation schedule not alot at this time...unless you were awarded vistiation w/ no specfic times ect then you can still hold her in contempt