Flying Debris

probably catch some slack for this one…

*Using this income bracket because it’s the most effected*

Working class family on the low end of the income bracket. In other words you’re just getting by each month, usually juggling a few bills to keep your head above water. Out of nowhere you receive a bill for $40,000 AND if you don’t pay a large portion fairly quick, you’re going to jail.

I don’t know the actual statistics for occurrences, but I’ve known 3 men this has happened to so it’s probably more common than you think.

When a child is born to a single mother, the father must provide financial support for his child(ren). ie., child support.

But-

What if the father doesn’t know he fathered a child?

What if the mother chose not to inform the father?

How could he provide for a child he didn’t know existed?

Currently these factors have no bearing on the father’s responsibility. There is no requirement that a mother notify a father of his child’s birth.

In one case I’m personally familiar with, the mother waited 15 yrs to tell the father he had a child. She was very young (probably didn’t want anyone to know). During her pregnancy she moved half way across the country and severed contact with all former aquaintences.
Let’s estimate.

15 yrs of unpaid child support at say $150/month + interest.

Can you imagine getting slammed with a $40,000 Due Yesterday bill? But that’s not all, you must immediately find the funds for an attorney to represent you in (possibly) getting a reduction on the interest, and work out a payment plan that will keep your butt out of jail. Multiply the threat of jail for fathers on probation or parole.

I’m not proposing an across the board negation of financial responsibility if the father isn’t notified. I do think certain conditions and requirements should be put in place to protect the financial well-being of children currently supported by the father…

The mother must notify father of birth.

Or she must be able to produce evidence showing she made an effort to notify during a set amount of time (say 2 yrs) after the birth.

Failure to meet these conditions would negate entitlement to financial support during the interim between birth and notification.

I firmly believe a father (or mother) has a financail and moral obligation to support their children.

But I also think a mother has a responsibility to notify the father of the birth of his child. Obviously there are exceptions, such as when the mother is fleeing a situation where she fears for her or her child’s safety. This wasn’t the reason in any of the 3 cases I’m familiar with so while it does happen, I don’t think this is the most common reason for a mother failing to notify the father.

Tags: Parenting //