Child Support

[SylvieSprings]

Hi All,

I am posting on the behalf of a friend of mine who is 13 weeks pregnant, living with her boyfriend for the past few months (less than 6). The boyfriend is the father-to-be, but is not keen on taking on the responsibility. In fact, he is adamant that she gets an abortion or moves out. They are not on good speaking terms with each other, despite her trying very hard to make the relationship work. He's been married and divorced twice. And told her that he is deliberately giving her the silent treatment like the way he did to his ex-wife to get her to leave him.

My question is - in terms of child support, has my friend any legal rights? Is he legally duty bound to support her financially?

Sylvie

yes, providing if necessary dna proves he is the father he has to pay. however the child support agency are useless so whether she actually gets anything is another matter!!! csa will organise dna if he denys paternity hope that helps

Thanks, Meerkatsandkookaburras. Do you know how much would the child support allowance from the father be? My friend is hoping to employ a nanny to help with looking after the baby soon after the birth of the baby.

If the child support agency is unreliable,is there a legal means of ensuring that the father keep up the payments?

Many thanks for your advice.

Sylvie

I'll warn your friend now Sylvie. The Child Support Agency is not exactly busting a gut to get money from reluctant fathers. When my marriage broke down and ex moved out nearly 3 years ago the CSA became involved.

Since then I have received £40 in total.

Tell her to get something sorted and quick and not to rely on them at all.

Its 15% of his wages that he will be expected to pay via the CSA - he has no obligation to support her as they were not married and spousal maintenance is rare anyway.

A nanny will be expensive and unless she plans to go straight back to work she wont need one anyway.

Thank you all.

As my friend (if she moves out) has to provide board and lodging for herself without family around to help her, she's got to return to work as soon as possible. But someone will have to help look after the baby whilst she's at work, hence the relevance of the nanny.

She's planning to seek legal counsel next week and hopefully will be able to come up with an agreement for him to sign. Sadly, she can no longer trust him to keep his word.