My real father left when I was a year old. My mother never legally filed for any support trying to make it on our own. I will be 18 very soon. Can I do anything to recover the support she never asked for? I'm going to college soon and don't know how to pay for it.

Perhaps if you get something filed before you turn 18. I have heard that courts do not backdate support orders. It also depends on your location. Some places require support payments while child is in college.

Good Luck

In some states the duty to support ends at 18; in others, it ends at 21.

No you can not personally file anything, your mother can still go and file and get till you are 18 ( and some back, up to the statue of limitation) and further if you to college.

But it is up to your mother to file, not you.