Q: Can my daughter get child support if she does not give her baby the fathers last name? They were never married.
Only lived together. The father walked out on her 1 month ago and she is due with her little girl in 1 1/2 weeks.
Thank you.
A: Yes, she is entitled to child support from the biological father. The question/issue of the child's last name is a totally different matter, and if the parents can't agree on the last name, its up to the Judge to decide what name the child shall go by. Either way, the child support is not affected by the decision on the child's name. The mother should be prepared to allow the father to have "parenting time" ( visitation) with the child after it is born. He might also ask for DNA testing to prove it is his child before the Court sets a child support amount.
Marjorie A Bristol agrees with this answer
A: I agree, but would add that the father can also seek custody and parenting time of the child. Courts are moving more and more towards joint custody with split parenting time. Your daughter needs an attorney to represent her if that is the case.
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