I am 24 years old, married and a mother. I have never met my father, unfortunately I was the result of a one night stand. If I ever found my dad could I try to get child support for those 18 years. I'm just curious, if I ever find him I'd be more interested in finally having a dad then collecting money.

To my knowledge, and I may be incorrect, but this type of question came up when I was having to pay child support. My ex tried to see about getting it retroactively for previous years. That was not allowed - at least not then. Maybe things have changed in the laws now. Don't know. I'm sure that it would also depend on the laws where he lives and where you are living.

As far as wanting and finally having a dad, I commend you for that and wish you well in that pursuit!

In most places it is the mother that is owed the child support not the child, since she spent her money to raise you. So in most states it will be only the mother that can take him to court for support.

And also there is a statue of limitation on how for you can go back, so each year you get older, there is less and less that would be allowed to collect, esp since there was never any order in place to enforce.

I agree with the response of Fr_Chuck. My only addition would be to request that your Mother attempt to assist you in locating your biological father. For more than one reason. You and your children actually could benefit greatly from knowing of any family medical history, anything that could be passed down, from physical to mental disease. Also, check into the statue of limitations in the state and county in which you reside. It is possible that it doesn't exist, although unlikely. Be cautious of your heart when you approach this journey in your life as the reaction that you could get from your biological father could be painful. If he never knew anything about being a father it could be devastating to him and his current life(style). It's possible that it could be a wonderful discovery for him as well. I would go for it,

That's so very true about being cautious in a situation like this in case he didn't know that he had fathered a child. Does your mother even know the name of the father?

I will add as the others did, I doubt you will have a "dad" if your mother did not have a man in her life that raised you, ( that wouild have been a dad) It is possible this man does not even know you exist and has a wife and family now and will not want some grown lady showing up saying she is his child. May cause divorce or untold problems in his current life.
So always use a third party for contact and be sure they want to see or hear from you also.