17 yrs ago an ex-sleep over gal of mine, showed up at my house with welfare documents for me to sign, that admitted I was her newborn daughter's father and that I WOULD pay child support. Stupidly (and very drunk) I signed the paper. I hadn't even known this woman was pregnant until about a week before she delivered. I PAID child support for yrs, then was in a bad accident and off work for well over a year. Arrears grew to say the least. I am still paying child support though I have no relationship with the child. The child, in the last year or so, has expressed great interest in finding out who is her father---having heard from many people that there were many candidates. The mother only recently agreed to a DNA--after asking child support services if I would still have to pay my support. Well, I will until the child is 18. I am fine with that. BUT, if we get this DNA done and it is established I am not the child's father (there are at least two other possibilities), can I get the arrears dropped? The child was born and lives in WA. I live in CA.:(

Hi Dave. Well that is quite a quandry you have there. You are a good man for accepting responsibility all these years. It would seem to me that if the DNA tests come back and prove you are not the father, you should be able to have the arrears dropped. But, each state is different and it may not be as easy as one would imagine. I have included two web sites for you to begin your search on the answer you need. You can contact people on each of these sites and get a better idea as to how to go about resolving your issue.

Child Support Resource Center Home Page (http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/dcs/)

California Department of Child Support Services - (http://www.childsup.cahwnet.gov/)

Please read through them carefully and definitely contact each state. I hope this helps. Good Luck!

Thank you so much.

You are quite welcome! Glad I could help. :)