Q: Will the court take into account other children when a new case for child support is opened?
I was served papers from a girlfriend whom I last saw 8 years ago. She alleges I am the father of her child. My wife and I have a daughter who is 3 and we were concerned that if this were true, we would be unable to provide adequately for our daughter. Using a calculator, the estimated child support is 690$ per month. Will the courts take into account the fact that I have a child, as to not do harm?
A:
No--not unless you are divorced and are obligated by law to pay child support to two (or more) different women at the same time.
I know many people will think this does not sound "fair." But the child support laws are designed to help all the single mothers out there raise their children--and that requires help from the father of the child.
Having said that, you can--and should--demand a DNA paternity test before accepting the allegations.
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