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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to chase absent 'father' for child support?

7 replies

darleneconnor · 15/11/2010 13:10

Wasn't sure where to put this. It's more of a 'what should I do?' than an 'AIBU?'.

Backstory
I had only known EXDP for a few weeks when I got pg. We were knowingly having unprotected sex. I told him I was broody, in fact I tried to break up with him because I said I wanted kids soon and he was v young (18). I suggested condoms to him, but he refused to use them. I thought we would probably be safe because we only had sex during the 'safe' parts of my cycle but that didn't work. I told him in advance that if I got pg I wouldn't have an abortion.

He seemed happy at first when I told him the inevitable news. He bought a flat (his intention anyway) and I moved in. Our relationship became more like 'friends who slept together', we weren't in love and didn't want to be a long term couple. The plan was for me and the baby to stay at his until the baby was a few months old and I had found a job and my own place.

Then, out of the blue, at 39 weeks pg he said he had changed his mind about becoming a dad and I had to move out immediately. I managed to get a flat in a pretty scummy area 10 min walk from his. I called him when I was in labour but he didn't come to the hospital because he was 'too busy'. I called again after the birth (when still in hospital) and invited him to see his DS. Again he was 'too busy'. He knew my new address and phone number and said he would call later that week to arrange a visit. That was 8 years ago. He never came to register the birth so has no parental rights and doesn't even know his DS's name.

When DS was 2 I met DP and we have since had a DD. DP is great with DS and treats him like his own, although he doesn't get called dad. (he says he would if we got married)

I've never tried to chase EXDP for maintenance because firstly, I wanted to make a clean break and have nothing more to do with him. I managed to support DS financially myself (I had a well paid f/t job before having DD). I really wouldn't want DS to ever have any contact with EXDP. I know that legally, paying maintenance wouldnt give him parental rights but he might try to do it out of spite and I haven't wanted to take the risk. Also EXDP has spent most of the past few years working abroad so I couldn't have got maintenace from him anyway.

However, now I have found out that he has set up a successful business. I imagine that he is making a fair bit of profit. Being self-employed he would probably try to 'hide' his income (knowing him) so it would probably be fruitless but should I now try to chase him for child support?

Morally I feel that he owes me but I dont want to bring a negative influence into DS's life. (I would fight him in court of he tried for access).

Should I let sleeping dogs lie?

OP posts:
olderyetwider · 15/11/2010 13:15

If I were you I'd stick with the clean break and concentrate on your family. Be honest with DS about his biological father, especially when he's older, but let DP be a dad to him.

Morally, he may owe you, but would it make you happier to open all of this up?

LucaSecondFloor · 15/11/2010 13:21

So you still don't want him to have any access to his child?

I think you probably know that if you approached him for maintenance it's likely he will want to have contact with his child, so in that case, yes 'let sleeping dogs lie'.

But this is my initial thought, am marking my place as I would genuinely be interested what others might think.

expatinscotland · 15/11/2010 13:23

He doesn't owe you, but he does owe his child. I'd chase him up and what he pays would go into savings for our child.

mayorquimby · 15/11/2010 13:32

While I'm loath to suggest letting twats like him "get away" with not supporting a child they created, that is a lot stronger argument for the general rather than when dealing with an individual.
The most telling part is when you say you would never want your child to have contact with his dad, but the reality is if you start chasing him for money there's a risk that he will pursue contact.

darleneconnor · 15/11/2010 13:43

older- it would make me happier to get a check every month Grin but no, the fall-out would probably not make me happier.

I'll talk to DP and DS about it and see what they think.

I think it's a bit not right that going for maintenance would give him some moral right to a child he abandoned. I know other people would come on here and say I'm being unfair in that, though.

Would I have no chance of stopping him getting contact if he wanted it?

The reverse is that one day he could wake up and decide he wants contact and would probably get it without ever having to pay any maintenance. This males me v Angry.

OP posts:
LaurieScaryCake · 15/11/2010 13:47

Why are you considering denying contact? Because of a couple of stupid mistakes he made when he was a very young man?

Maybe you extracting the correct financial support will allow your ex the chance to acknowledge his mistake and see his son.

olderyetwider · 15/11/2010 13:55

You may find at some point that DS wants contact, out of curiosity if nothing else, and you'll need to work out how to make that OK for you all.

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