Ask Me Help Desk - Child Support questions

I'm currently pregnant, granted I'm only two months pregnant. I do have questions on child support, already. He lives in California where I was living with him, I've moved back to Arizona and back with my mom for support.
I told him he won't see the child until he starts paying child support, or brings a lot of presents in his arms, with plenty of cash to help me get started on buying things for the baby.

Now he claims he won't be seeing the child so he won't have to pay child support. I've heard many stories on this, none of them really giving me the answer? So what is it.. will he have to pay, even if he dosen't see the child?

There are also issues with him only having labor jobs, with cash under the table... how will the courts find a income to base the support of the child?

Also I need to know if he can take the child away, and if he can, am I able to sign custody over to my mother?

Also he is a convicted felon in the state of California, will this help me in the custody battle or cause problems in the child support amount in the long run?

Child support does not go by visitations. He could never see the kid and still have to pay child support. Also you can not withhold visitation or joint custody from him because he is not paying child support. When the baby is born apply for the support and take it from there. If he doesn't acknowledge the baby as his he will have to take a paternity test to establish if he is responsible for support if he does not sign the birth certificate or anything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZonaAri

I'm currently pregnant, granted I'm only two months pregnant. I do have questions on child support, already. He lives in California where i was living with him, I've moved back to Arizona and back with my mom for support.
I told him he won't see the child until he starts paying child support, or brings a lot of presents in his arms, with plenty of cash to help me get started on buying things for the baby.

Now he claims he won't be seeing the child so he wont have to pay child support. I've heard many stories on this, none of them really giving me the answer? So what is it.. will he have to pay, even if he dosen't see the child?

There are also issues with him only having labor jobs, with cash under the table... how will the courts find a income to base the support of the child?

Also I need to know if he can take the child away, and if he can, am i able to sign custody over to my mother?

Also he is a convicted felon in the state of California, will this help me in the custody battle or cause problems in the child support amount in the long run?

If you keep telling him that he needs to bring you money or presents to see the child then you might as well turn the child over to him. He will win full custody based upon parental alienation. You have already proven you make poor choices and your on the road to destruction but now your dragging a child into all the mess. Stop playing games.

You can't withhold access to your child for non-payment of support, so don't do that. Bad, bad, bad.

He has to pay support whether he sees the child or not.

It's possible to impute income to him if you can show his ability to do a particular type of work and the opportunity for jobs in that field in his locality (if he works at cash jobs/under-the-table). But it can be hard to prove and frustrating if he bounces from job to job and works under the table. California's DCSS (Dept. of Child Support Services) will take care of that for you for free if you open a case up with them.

You can't sign parental rights over to your mom (the baby is a human being, not a puppy dog to be handed over to family members at will) and the no, the dad's felony record is likely not too important to the custody issue--It might be, it just depends on what he did, to whom, etc. It may have an impact on the time he has with the child but he won't lose his parental rights over it (I'm not saying it can never happen, it all depends on what he did).

By the way you can file for custody and support even before the child is born in California. And I think you probably have to file in California unless he has specific contacts with Arizona (I can give you a more definitive answer on that if you are interested).

Yes, stop telling him that, and hope he has not recorded you saying that.

You need to do nothing until the child is born, then you file for custody of the child, file for child support and he can file for visits.

You can not legally stop him from visits just because he does not pay, if he does not pay you can go to court to try and force payments

Quote:

Originally Posted by califdadof3

If you keep telling him that he needs to bring you money or presents to see the child then you might as well turn the child over to him. He will win full custody based upon parental alienation. You have already proven you make poor choices and your on the road to destruction but now your dragging a child into all the mess. Stop playing games.

I'm not doing anything wrong, I'm not dragging my child into anything. Which is why I want to get things sorted out, now.
I'm protecting the child from it's father. I've had death threats to me and the child.
I'm just asking questions, I'm not taking actions.
I need time to think, and I just wanted some useful advice.
Don't start pointing fingers when you don't know the complete story.
I wanted answers, not accusations.
I haven't hitten a road of destruction, yet.
I'm at a fork in the road looking down both lanes.

But using your kid as a bargaining chip IS wrong!
You have to go about it the way we have told you, not making your kid into a pawn.

Quote:

Originally Posted by califdadof3

If you keep telling him that he needs to bring you money or presents to see the child then you might as well turn the child over to him. He will win full custody based upon parental alienation. You have already proven you make poor choices and your on the road to destruction but now your dragging a child into all the mess. Stop playing games.

I agree. What is wrong with you girls who want to play these games. If you were my daughter I would be ashamed with your actions using a child as a pawn to get what you want. BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD is currently defined solely in terms of money. And to refuse a father from seeing his child how dare you. He has rights too and if he wants he could take you to court.