Child Support Payment FAQ

Questions:

• Is a father who never married the mother still required to pay child support?
• Is a stepparent obligated to financially support his or her stepchildren?
• Do I have to pay child support if my ex keeps me away from my kids?
• How long must parents support their children?
• Do fathers have the same right to child support as mothers?

Answer:

Is a father who never married the mother still required to pay child support?

Anyone who's determined to be a child's parent is responsible for supporting the child. Many unmarried fathers acknowledge paternity by signing a voluntary declaration of paternity at the time of the child's birth or soon thereafter; some are determined to be parents after a paternity suit is filed and genetic testing establishes parentage. It's also possible for a man who never married his child's mother to be presumed to be the father if he welcomes the child into his home and openly holds the child out as his own. For more information, see Paternity Issues and Child Support.