Child maintenance - help please

[singlemammytobe]

Hi, I’m 33 weeks pregnant and I would like some advice on child maintenance/child support.
Bit of background info: I was dating a guy - my baby daddy - I fell pregnant and when I told him he fed me a load of crap saying the baby isn’t his because he knows he can’t have kids even though he has never actively been trying with anyone. Anyway, whether he’s proven to be the father or not he has said he would never want anything to do with the baby, he doesn’t want kids, doesn’t want to be kept up to date with anything etc… What I want to know is, what are my options with pursuing a claim for child support? Has anyone else been through similar? If I make a claim will that give him rights? I don’t know anything 🤷🏼‍♀️

He has rights whether you claim or not, that’s the bottom line. There’s nothing to be gained by not claiming. He doesn’t have to go on the birth certificate for you to make a claim. He may insist on a DNA test which he has the right to do. And that will be at his expense. Unless he leaves the country, he can’t avoid that.
If he does leave the country, hopefully he’ll go to either the US or Australia where we have a reciprocal agreement and they will nail him.
Of course, some of them will literally give up work and go self-employed and attempt to work cash in hand for the rest of their life to avoid paying the absolute pittance that is child support. Most of them don’t they just whinge about it.

He has "rights" of access to his child regardless of whether or not you claim for child maintenance from him

Paternity may need to be proven first if he is disputing it.

Rights to what exactly? Unless you have a court order and his name is on the child's BC I wouldn't worry. It doesn't sound like he will take you to court for access but be prepared for him to walk in and out of your life when the baby is born.

Do you know what sort of job he does? If he's self employed he may be able to avoid paying. Be warned CMS are absolutely useless but do make a claim!