Mandatory Child Support

[Toxic]

What is the name of your state? Minnesota

I am pretty sure someone is going to jump all over me on this one. I have been here before, about a year or so ago. My 19 year old daughter has a son, 9 months old now, living under my roof, which by the way I love! I am his grampa and I want what is best for him. Unfortunately the father of the child is not father material, at this stage in his life. Initially, when the father found out he was going to be a daddy, he told my daughter if she kept the baby, he would never speak to her again. She pretty much weathered 9 months of pregnancy without his support, actually 9 months of verbal abuse from him. In the nine months since his birth, he has seen the baby about a dozen times, and those visits were at his house (mom's) because he didn't have a job, a car, or a license to drive. His time was spent partying instead of fathering. He is still headed down that same path. What rights does he have as a father? Can any offer of child support from him be refused so he does not get to see the baby 50% of the time. If he does pay child support, is he entitled to the baby 50% of the time even though he is into drugs and alchohol? Will the courts side with the mother (my daughter) in a situation like this? She is not refusing to let him see the baby, she actually wants him to. Her concern is leaving the baby with him unsupervised. He begged her this past Christmas Eve to come over to his mom's house, where he lives. She did, only to have him leave and go party with his friends. I am concerned for my grandson. I do not live in a double wide, I make good money, the baby is insured under my roof, so don't everyone jump down my throat. I am seeking help here, not abuse.

Can she refuse child support?

If she can't, what rights does the father have?

Thank you,

Tim

 

[kayceebee]

Has paternity been established? They are not married, so that would be have to happen first.

Is there a current support order???

If you daughter applies for state aid, THEY will go after him for child support. If she does not receive aid from the state, she does not have to apply for child support.

Even if he pays child support, that in now way gives him automatic 50% time with the child. He could get every other weekend, an evening or two during the week, and extended time during the summer.

Keep in mind: Child support and visitation are two very different things. If someone doesn't pay CS, they can still have visitation.

 

[Toxic]

There has been no court order yet to pay child support. She recieved the packet from the county yesterday and we will be filling out the paper work this weekend. Will paternity need to be established before any court appearance? If I understand you correctly, if he pays child support or does not pay child support, he is still entitled to visitation. Both my daughter and myself support visitation so the child has a father in his life. The concern is that this gentleman needs to mature a bit before anyone on our end would be comfortable dropping him off for a weekend. If he is proven to still be smoking dope and drinking, can supervised visitation be mandated? Based on what you say, child support would definately be a good thing for the baby and the babies future!

Thanks Again

Tim

 

[LdiJ]

There has been no court order yet to pay child support. She recieved the packet from the county yesterday and we will be filling out the paper work this weekend. Will paternity need to be established before any court appearance? If I understand you correctly, if he pays child support or does not pay child support, he is still entitled to visitation. Both my daughter and myself support visitation so the child has a father in his life. The concern is that this gentleman needs to mature a bit before anyone on our end would be comfortable dropping him off for a weekend. If he is proven to still be smoking dope and drinking, can supervised visitation be mandated? Based on what you say, child support would definately be a good thing for the baby and the babies future!

Thanks Again

Tim

Paternity will be established as part of the child support case. It would then be up to dad to petition for visitation if that is what he wants.

50/50 time with the child is by no means automatic, and in fact is very unlikely to be ordered by a judge for an infant...and even less likely to be ordered in your daughter's case, based on the simple facts of the situation.

Overnights...let alone full weekends, are also unlikely at this point. However, if he is consistant with his visitation, eventually he will get overnights, and then weekends.