Child support arrangements are decided by the court when a married couple gets divorced. However, the process is much different for single parents. A child support order is not automatically issued to a new mother and if the father did not establish paternity, that may need to be done before the mother can get any financial support. This process can be very stressful for single fathers who may or may not have been in a long-term relationship with the mother. In most cases, fathers who are unsure of the child’s paternity should contact an attorney before they go to court for Child Support Dayton OH.
The process may begin with a paternity test. This test is typically done with a mouth swab and results are given to the parents a few weeks later. If the alleged father is found to not be a parent to the child in question, the case for him is over. However, if he is the father, the case continues and the court will determine how much money he has to pay to the child’s mother. Child support is merely a financial issue. It does not address parenting time or any other contact with the child. Unmarried fathers must file a motion with the court to ask for custody or parenting time.
Whether or not a father is able to spend time with his child, it’s important to remain current on child support in Dayton OH. Falling behind can result in uncomfortable consequences such as loss of driving privileges, seizure of tax refunds and loss of funds in bank accounts. Failing to pay child support for several months could result in jail time. In addition to these penalties, it might also be more difficult to challenge the child’s mother for custody.
Ideally, parents come together to do what’s best for their children. Regardless of the way the child’s life began, he or she has two parents whose job it is to love and support them, both emotionally and financially, until they reach adulthood. Albert and Krochmal Attorneys may be able to help new fathers get a reasonable child support order and also represent them as they fight to get parenting time with their children.
