Child support 15 years later?

In 1986 I had relations twice with a woman. 1989 I was surved with child support documents. I hired a lawyer, we had bloodwork, interrogatories, etc. The bloodwork was 98.6, my lawyer said I still had rights. (2 other possible fathers and conception may have been 3 weeks before I met her), Trial was set for "Trial by Jury" in our hometown in WV. Three days before the trial my lawyer notified me that State and the woman had dropped the charges, recanted and said I was not the father, there would be not trial. Several months later she marries and moved away. 1992 my lawyer called and asked if I wanted to file for "deprivation of character", I said no. Now, it is 11 years later. I have been married 8 years and we have two small children. We live in PA. My employer of 7 years notifies me that he received notification for child support enforcement from the state of WV, not actual withholding, just wanting info. I contacted my old lawyer and asked what papers were signed at that time saying this was finished. He said it was just dismissed. In turn he tells me that now I do not have any rights, the laws in WV changed and anything over 96 percent on bloodwork makes me automatically liable. He refers me to another WV laywer who charges a retainer then 2 weeks later says he can not help, this will be done in PA. I am not trying to shun a responsibility but feel if in deed I was responsible, this should have happened 14 yrs. ago.

This story is all too familiar. It is my understanding that you need an attorney in the state in which the child resides. Is the child living in WV? I am in KY bordering WV. If there is anything I can do from this end let me Know....such as going to the court house and obtaining records etc. The reason I am offering is because at one time I needed records from TN and had no one there to call on and it would have saved me time and money if I had.

As far as arrears go....I believe with a good attorney you can fight them. You didn't pay because you didn't want to, but because the action against you was dropped and you believed the child wasn't yours.

I'm not sure they can charge you with arrears if she dropped the case.....or why there was not any signed documents to that fact.

[MySonsMom]

Paula..You are SO nice and kind. Will you be my friend? I just wanted let you know that you are a great contributer to this site...Thanks from I'm sure a lot of us here..we appreciate you! Have a good day!

What is the child's mother doing to him/her emotionally? The child apparently doesn't know who her own father is. If the child is yours, her lying to you and the court has deprived you of your child as well. Perhaps the child's home life is not stable and he/she is in need of a stable home? I'd obviously get a d.n.a. test first. Then I'd pay support (current, not back support) and develop a relationship with my child. I file any charges/suits against the offending parent I could, and think about a custody suit.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by paula2:
[b]This story is all too familiar. It is my understanding that you need an attorney in the state in which the child resides. Is the child living in WV? I am in KY bordering WV. If there is anything I can do from this end let me Know....such as going to the court house and obtaining records etc. The reason I am offering is because at one time I needed records from TN and had no one there to call on and it would have saved me time and money if I had.

As far as arrears go....I believe with a good attorney you can fight them. You didn't pay because you didn't want to, but because the action against you was dropped and you believed the child wasn't yours.

I'm not sure they can charge you with arrears if she dropped the case.....or why there was not any signed documents to that fact.[/b]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Paula, Thanks so much for the offer, but I think we have all bases covered as best we can. The child is in WV, 6 hrs. from here. All atty's and both State offices I have talked to assure me I need a PA lawyer. Too bad the 2nd WV lawyer did not tell me that until after I paid him the retainer. Thanks again.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Waldo:
[b]What is the child's mother doing to him/her emotionally? The child apparently doesn't know who her own father is. If the child is yours, her lying to you and the court has deprived you of your child as well. Perhaps the child's home life is not stable and he/she is in need of a stable home? I'd obviously get a d.n.a. test first. Then I'd pay support (current, not back support) and develop a relationship with my child. I file any charges/suits against the offending parent I could, and think about a custody suit. [/b]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, the child is 15 yrs. old. I really can not imagine establishing a relationship. I honestly do not believe he is mine, I think it is down to the luck of CS trying to pick someone plus I am not sure how I would feel having a 15 yr. old that I never met around my 4 yr. old son and 6 yr. old daughter.

Working it out, who was the guy from WV that got into trouble for messing with test in the lab**************.Zane.....or something like that......maybe he worked on your case too.

Only kidding. Since it has been 15 yrs., technology has come a long way and maybe you should reconsider having another DNA test.

My husband my have a 13 yr. old in Tennessee, we are working on getting an order for blood work now. If the child is his, he says he can't walk away. From all the paper work we've dug up on this woman....well....it's not good, and my husband feels maybe he can make some kind of impact even this late in his life. Honestly....If he did want to walk away....I would lose alot of respect for him.....and it would be very sad to think he could just walk away and abandon his flesh and blood.
Things will be rough for awhile and it will not be an easy road.....thats where pray and faith come in.

Good Luck and God Bless.

PS It is still my understanding you need a WV attorney. The state in which the child resides is the state that has jurisdiction and unless your PA attorney is licensed in WV, then he will not be able to represent you in court in WV.