I have been divorced since October of 08. My son lived with me up until Dec of 08, I decided to move to better my life and my son did not want to come with me. I wanted him to come but he wanted to move in with his dad. He now lives with his dad. (My son and I have a horrible relationship and he's 9) I only live 4 hours away and I see him at least one weekend a month and we speak almost everyday on the phone. I have not started to pay child support yet because I only started my job last week. I have every intention of supporting my son. I would never not support my son unlike his father who paid very little child support last year (not through the courts) because he did not have a job. He is threatening to take me to court for child abandonment and trying to sue me for $200 a week child support. I do not make enough to give him that amount of money. So my question is... In the state of PA what constitutes child abandonment and is it possible that the court could make me pay that amount of child support even if I can not afford it? How do I figure out on my salary what I would have to pay?

Thank you,

Danielle

If there is NO court ordered support, then there is no issue of child abandonment. What you need to do is formalize support by asking a Family court to issue an order for support.

Your "ex" didn't support the child the child was with you, for whatever reason; you aren't supporting the child now because you just started a job. I don't see a whole lot of taking responsibility on either side.

At any rate - it's not child abandonment and the Courts use a formula to determine the amount of child support to be paid. Your "ex" won't sue you as such. He'll file for legal custody and probably support. You'll file for legal custody (if you want it) and visitation. The Court will decide dates and amounts.