Hello, I am writing this because I genuinely don’t know. My son’s father and I split before he was a year old. He has been paying less than court-ordered child support until six months ago, when he started paying the proper amount. Recently, he mentioned signing his rights away and said that if he does that, he won’t have to pay support anymore. Is that true? If he signs away his rights, does he still have to support my son?
Yes, he still has to pay child support. Child support is an obligation he owes to his child, regardless of his rights.
Let him think that. If he is willing to give up the relationship, it’s better for your child. But he’s still obligated to provide financial support.
Let him sign his rights away so you don’t have to ask for his permission for things like vacations or passports. Then put him on child support.
The courts will side with you. Unless a paternity test says otherwise, he will have to pay.
Nope. The only way he’ll get out of paying is if your new partner legally adopts your son.
You also can’t withhold visitation just because he hasn’t paid support.
This is why the Maintenance Enforcement program exists. Many fathers think they can avoid paying support, but they quickly find out that’s not the case.
You should talk to a lawyer about this. We were told that once he signs his rights away, he might not have to pay child support.
If he’s smart, he’ll have to pay support for post-secondary school too. Just keep in mind that collecting payments can be tough.