i need advice

[question321]

i live in texas. i am about to be 16 and i have a daughter. her father doesn't see her anymore nor pays. i am trying to do the best for her. i don't want to have anything to do with him but i could really use the money of course. the only thing is i don't have money for an attorney and i don't know how i would come to get child support. what should i do.

[truebluemd]

there are experts here that can help you with filing for child support.

You cannot just get money from dad (if he is dad) and expect him to stay away. Once dad is legally established as dad, he will also have the right to file for custody/visitation, and will be granted rights to be apart of the childs life.

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

You will need to establish paternity and then get a child support order. If dad wants to be a parent, then let him file for parenting time.

[RRevak]

i live in texas. i am about to be 16 and i have a daughter. her father doesn't see her anymore nor pays. i am trying to do the best for her. i don't want to have anything to do with him but i could really use the money of course. the only thing is i don't have money for an attorney and i don't know how i would come to get child support. what should i do.

Has paternity been est. for dad or did he just sign the AOP (the Acknowledgment of Paternity at the hospital at the childs birth)?

You dont want dad around but find dad to be good enough for you to take his money? This is hypocritical. If you think dad is good enough to pay you support than you should also find dad good enough to be in your childs life. After all, you found him good enough to make him a dad in the first place...

[question321]

he is 22 years old and far from fit to raise a child. easily put he is an idiot. anyways, how do i start. i mean what do i do first... and i have come to terms that i have made a mistake but i can't sit here and dwell on that. he didn't sign anything. he came and saw her at the hospital but didn't sign the birth certificate. i don't even know where he is at.

[RRevak]

he is 22 years old and far from fit to raise a child. easily put he is an idiot. anyways, how do i start. i mean what do i do first

Ok chica, that just changes this drastically as this now becomes a case of Statutory Rape of which he could very well (and more then likely will once paternity gets established) find himself guilty of...among a whole slew of other charges!! I dont think you should be counting on that support as dad cant pay if dad is in jail.

[question321]

well i heard that only if my mom presses charges that he would go to jail
i have a very complicated situation. thats why i was just going to leave it be, but i need the money i can't find a job. she is about to be one in a month...i'm just very confused

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

How old were you at time of conception?

[fairisfair]

[url=http://www.oag.state.tx.us/cs/]Texas Attorney General[/url]

start here..... just guessing at your financial situation, but I am betting you will pay nothing for their services.

There are many other programs that you may be qualified for, including TANF, food stamps, medical care, and WIC. I would suggest that you apply for them all.

You dont want dad around but find dad to be good enough for you to take his money? This is hypocritical. If you think dad is good enough to pay you support than you should also find dad good enough to be in your childs life. After all, you found him good enough to make him a dad in the first place...

And I disagree with Rrevak.... your responsibility it to care for your child, and to assure that your child is supported by both parents. Your responsibility to facilitate a relationship between your child and his/her other parent will happen when that OTHER parent creates one, both legally and emotionally.

[RRevak]

How old were you at time of conception?

Op says she's about to be 16 and seeing as baby will be 1 in a month that would have made her about 14!

[question321]

i was 14 when i got pregnant. he said he did it because he wanted me to have his child. i very much appreciate all your advice. he doesn't want to have a relationship with her the last i talked to him he sounded more interested in me than her so i just stopped the contact. i didn't think it would be good to put her through those kind of things....idk..i guess i'll just have to figure it out

[fairisfair]

Op says she's about to be 16 and seeing as baby will be 1 in a month that would have made her about 14!

and him in his 20's.... perhaps that lends a clue as to why she might have made a bad choice in a father for her child??? hmmmm?

[RRevak]

and him in his 20's.... perhaps that lends a clue as to why she might have made a bad choice in a father for her child??? hmmmm?

I'm doing some looking to find out of the state has the possibility of bringing charges as wouldnt that pose a red flag once she files for CS and paternity (for an illegal relationship) is established..provided he's dad She's nowhere NEAR being able to fall under texas consent laws at 14!

[fairisfair]

I'm doing some looking to find out of the state has the possibility of bringing charges as wouldnt that pose a red flag once she files for CS and paternity (for an illegal relationship) is established..provided he's dad She's nowhere NEAR being able to fall under texas consent laws at 14!

that's nice.... but, that was not her question.

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

File for TANF/ food stamps / WIC. The folks in these programs will help with the paperwork for establishment of paternity and child support.