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millec · Mar 16, 2007, 01:46 PM

I have son whose father is $21,000 dollars behind in child support. He does nothing for the child nor does he spend time with the child. He was not at the hospital when my son was born, so therefore his name was not put on the birth certificate. He has never denied my son so therefore a paternity test has never been done. Any time I speak with him he talks about his "rights" to see his son (even though he makes no effort to see him) and get upset when I say "you have no rights". He does not pay child support any more, he did not sign the birth certificate, he's never requested a paternity test. DOES HE HAVE ANY RIGHTS?

Squiffy · Mar 16, 2007, 01:50 PM

He as rights as the father of the child, regardless of whether he pays child support or not. What those rights are would be up to a judge to decide, if he tried to get difficult. If he wants to be a part of your sons life let him, he may not deserve to see his son, but in time his son deserves to see him, regardless of what a deadbeat dad he is. If he isn't interested though, which seems to be the case, don't worry, at the end of the day it is he who will miss out on the best job in the world-being a good parent.

millec · Mar 16, 2007, 02:03 PM

One thing I failed to mention is that my son is 11, he no longer wants to see his father because during the most important times in his life (so far) when he wanted him there he's never been there. My son is very active in sports, football, basketball & baseball, since the age of 6. I can count on one hand how many games he has been to. And not to mention all the hours my son has spent waiting on his father to pick him up after he promised he would but did not show. My son thinks his dad don't like him. So its at a point now that my son don't even like him and is quick to tell you that. So I don't want to "force" my son to spend any time with him with him feeling that way. But he (the father) says it don't matter because he has his rights.

Fr_Chuck · Mar 16, 2007, 06:28 PM

The father still has rights, now what the mother needs to do is go back to court and try and reduce any visitation the father can have, make it supervised, or restricted in some way.

Also she needs to take him back to court for enforcement of the child support, ( He not paying child support does not take away his rights either, but does not help his case in court)

But the father is right, he is entitled to every right the child custody agreement gave him. ( and assuming he owes child support there is a child custody agreement in place)