newtothisinTX
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? TX
I have a 12 year old son for whom I have just filed for child support for the first time. I got involved with his father when I was 16 and he was 26. He knows about his son, but has never given me any money or support otherwise. He was very abusive and I ended up getting out of the relationship very scared of him. I didn't file for child support for fear of making him even angrier. Thankfully he has left us alone for the past 11 years now. After all this time and and knowning he now lives halfway across the country I finally filed for child support. I know I have the right to have child support and he shouldn't deny my son more chances with the money I should be getting (college fund, summer camps, sports, ect). However, I'm so scared that he will try to get visitations with my son just to spite me for filing. Is there any way I can stop this? I vaguely remember an abandonment law in Texas stating if the parent didn't pay child support or try to contact his/her child in so many years, you could file to have their parental rights taken away. Does anyone know anything about this? Do you know anything else I could do to make sure he doesn't try to hurt my child to spite me? I have a meeting at the Attorney General's Office on Wednesday. Thank you so much!
I have a 12 year old son for whom I have just filed for child support for the first time. I got involved with his father when I was 16 and he was 26. He knows about his son, but has never given me any money or support otherwise. He was very abusive and I ended up getting out of the relationship very scared of him. I didn't file for child support for fear of making him even angrier. Thankfully he has left us alone for the past 11 years now. After all this time and and knowning he now lives halfway across the country I finally filed for child support. I know I have the right to have child support and he shouldn't deny my son more chances with the money I should be getting (college fund, summer camps, sports, ect). However, I'm so scared that he will try to get visitations with my son just to spite me for filing. Is there any way I can stop this? I vaguely remember an abandonment law in Texas stating if the parent didn't pay child support or try to contact his/her child in so many years, you could file to have their parental rights taken away. Does anyone know anything about this? Do you know anything else I could do to make sure he doesn't try to hurt my child to spite me? I have a meeting at the Attorney General's Office on Wednesday. Thank you so much!