Child Support / Custody issues IA/MO

[countrylady]

My Fiance recently found out he has a son he didn't know about. We found out about him when he was 5 1/2 years old. The mom withheld dads name from the state of MO and was on state support the whole time. Dads parents have had the same address and phone number for ten years, she called his house while she was pregnant and did not mention it. She filled for a paternity test, dad obliged, now she's going for child support. Court ordered 550.00 a month, plus back support. Dad recently got discharged medically from the army, and does not have any income. We are not being allowed visitation, or any contact to mom, just with the state. We have one picture of the child, sitting on his moms lap, have no information or anything, and yet we have to hand over hundreds of dollars a month... something isn't right.. I need advise on how to either fight for custody, or visitation, or give up his paternal rights. She is still living off state aid, her monthly gross income is 640.00 on her obligation computation sheet. We have a son of our own to support, we were planning on getting married, but if we do I was told they will take part of my income to give to her... I need some help..

 

[Duranie]

Dad is not going to be able to get custody, he does not even know the child. He certainly can't get it just to get out of paying CS. By the way this is between mom and Dad, I suggest you stay out of it. But he can file for visiitation. He cannot termimate his parental rights unless there is a step-dad willing to adopt. Dad should consult with an attorney or call legal aid. If he has no income right now he should have CS reflected to show that but he is going to have to get some sort of disability. Did he not show up for any of these hearings?

Also since mom was on state assistance, that is why they are forcing her to file for CS. Yyour husband must pay all this back to the state.

I do not agree with mom waiting 5 years to do this but there is no time limit toi establish paternity and since she depended on tax payers to support her son, the state is now going after Dad for reimbursement.

You might want to google your states child support guidelines to make sure mom has a full time income being inputed, and to see if your child reduces it at all. Your child may or may not come into play but the issue here is mom was on welfare, so Dad must pay back the state. Once the state is paid off then it might be psosible to reduce support.

Dad needs to get some sort of income to pay this. Is he applying for social security disability? this child will be paid a benefit if he gets approved, plus likely retroactive pay.

 

[countrylady]

I am marrying dad, have been with dad for 4 years, i will be as much a part of this as possible.. I am not suggesting that we want custody so we don't have to pay support. I am just saying that we are not being awarded visitation.. or even a decent picture of the child. On top of that the money is going to HER not to the state. He has filed for disability from the army and from Social Security. He is going through tests and other stuff for it. We have the proof that the child is being raised by her parents, she does not work, and yet she is still recieving state aid and money from us. The took his stimulus payment and gave it to her, the even sent us a statement saying where it was distributed to, and it all went to her. I do not have any issue with paying support, I understand its intended purpose, but I feel as though we should have visitation.

 

[Duranie]

dad can certainly get visitation but he needs to go to court and ask for it.