Q: If I apply for services to receive child support, will the father be made aware of our home address?
He became abusive and threatened me after I found out I was pregnant. When I left, he told me that he wanted nothing to do with the baby but if I ever filed for child support, he would come after me and take our son. Son is now 3 years old, and I could really use the help as I'm going to college soon, then on to graduate school. Money is already tight. However, I do NOT want him to be able to easily locate us, in case he goes through with his threat. He lives in another state, but I believe that would not stop him from trying to come around if he had an idea of where to find us.
A:
Call the Office of Child Support Enforcement in the County where you live. Tell them your concerns. They will help you. Realize though that if you start collecting support he is entitled to visit the child. You might cause yourself a lot of trouble. In some states, you can terminate his rights because he has not seen or supported the child in several years. One more concern: he is the father. You had a child with him. By law, he and the child are entitled to have a relationship. If you die, it is possible the child would go straight to him!
Of course violence will never be allowed. You say he was abusive so you might want to just move on. The little bit of support you would get is not worth the trouble it would cause. And it is doubtful he would ever pay it anyway. Sorry, I don't have a perfect answer. You should seriously consider terminating his rights so he can't get the child if something happens to you.
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