Does my babys father have to pay child support?
The question “does my baby’s father have to pay child support?” is always answered with “yes”. Of course if you don’t seek it he doesn’t have to pay it just then. But let’s say five years from now you decide by gosh you were entitled to it after all and your child is suffering and he needs to pay up. You can go to court and get a retroactive order and now he has to pay up five years’ worth. Or 18 years’ worth for that matter. Can you guys agree to a lesser amount than a court would order? Sure. But if you end up needing food stamps or WIC or other public assistance the state will go get an order, based on the law in your state, that will require the prescribed amount under that state’s law and his resources. If he paid less he now owes the rest. And he is not protected against legal action by the state even if you told him to pay less. And even if you agreed in writing to less, the law allows you to go to court and get the rest after the fact. HE has no protection unless he pays the fu
