Why do I have to pay child support for a child that I have always taken care of. I lived with him and his mother all of his life. She gets public assistance and I think she told welfare that she knows nothing of the father so that she can get more foodstamps.
Now I can't get a job because the government garnishes my checks and taxes.

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Originally Posted by gooddad

Why do i have to pay child support for a child that i have always taken care of.

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Because it is required by the law

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Originally Posted by gooddad

I lived with him and his mother all of his life. She gets public assistance and i think she told welfare that she knows nothing of the father so that she can get more foodstamps.
Now i can't get a job because the goverment garnishes my checks and taxes.

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Those food stamps have to be paid by you or by the taxpayers.
Simple answer: she gets more food stamps, your checks and taxes are garnished...

Unless it is really outside the guidelines for support there is no reason to call it unfair.

Generally, when the custodial parent applies for public assistance they REQUIRE that they name the other parent. Then a support order is issued. Many states have an agency to collect that support and often do it through garnishment. An employer is not allowed to fire you because of such a garnishment,

I suspect we aren't getting the full story here.

Can you tell us more information? Are you still with her and your son? What are your ages? Your screen name is gooddad? Why is the order to support unfair?

Are you the bio father ? Are you listed on the birth certificate ?

You will not be ordered to pay child support without a court hearing, what happened when you went to that hearing.

?? You have always supported the child, so is the child living with you ? If not have you always paid the court ordered child support?

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Originally Posted by ScottGem

I suspect we aren't getting the full story here.

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Agree!

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Originally Posted by gooddad

Now i can't get a job because the goverment garnishes my checks and taxes.

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Do you mean you don't want to, because they will take more money?

Are you the child's father? If so, it's your responsibility to support him. If not, then on what basis were you ordered to pay child support? Generally, whenever a woman applies for public assistance, a condition of being eligible for benefits is that she pursue a judgment of child support against the father. There seems to be some irregularities in this situation. If she told welfare that the father is "unknown" then I don't see how it came back to you. If she told them "unknown" and she knew otherwise then she's guilty of fraud. Either way, things don't add up here. Some more info would be helpful.

Lets give the OP time to return and give us more info. Lets not turn him away by jumping on him.