Do I have any legal right to go after child support owed me. Even though I am 37 years old?

Riven Liether

Nope. Child support applies only until the child in question is 18 years old, and even then, it's paid to the parent with legal custody. You're too late.

And I'm not sure why it is that so many of us who are giving the CORRECT answer (a variation on what I stated above) are receiving a thumbs down.

philbertpheinstein

Talk to a few lawyers..

mlk682

Realistically I think thats your way of trying to punish him for not being a father. The best thing you can do is never be lik e him, be a father to your own kids, and move on. Good luck man, I feel your pain.....As far as the legals, call an attorney, being your mother is dead I think she is actually the person entitled and she may have elected not to collect.
I am a man who pays 33% of my income to child support. I end up working two jobs and it leaves me little time to be with my kids in fact it leaves me almost none. My ex wife drives a Cadillac Escallade and if I miss a payment is quick to point out she has bills to pay. the child support system may be able to help you, but I don't think its the money your looking for....

Good Luck

jim w

no you have no rights. you would if you where under 18 he would owe you all the back child support until he pays it off. even if it took him until you turned 37.

Lynn

I would definitely consult some legal advice on this. Even if you are deemed too old for say, "child support", I would think that at least by proving paternity legally it should grant you future rights with your biological ties. (for example, wills and estates, decision making for medical reasons, being contacted in emergencies as next of kin, etc.).
I'm not one to give legal advice, but I think establishing that paternity and consulting an attorney would be your next best move.
Sorry to hear your father has a dead beat attitude...my children have suffered the same fate with their natural father. Best of luck to you!

J Bird

Listen man, You need to accept that fact he will never be the father you always wanted. My dad was very absent my life as well. It doesn't bother me because I understand him. I expect nothing and in return I am never dissapointed. Be the man you wish he was, Its his loss . You don't want to get into a legal battle with your dad it will only make the resentment worse.
Let it go and and realize you never needed him.

StopGamestop

I think after so many years theres nothing you can do legally.

Andy's Mom

Nope, it ends when you turned 18....otherwise I would do the same thing with my loser father.

OOO! I know! I know!

At this point, it's not likely.

onehotmommy 79

no you can not only till you are 18 after that u can not do anything sorry

Jan

I knew someone that did and won Child support never goes away Ive heard of people winning the lottery and thought they were in the clear and still owed the state so why cant you go after the dead beat

Mr. Georgia

My mom only got child support for me until I was 18....... if my dad had owed money I think she could only collect until like 5 years after that.

Vince M

If any back child support would be owed, it would not be to you, but to the custodial parent for your care and upkeep. But since she is passed away, you would have no chance off collecting.

jimobasa

Child Support is paid by the absent parent for the benefit of the parent with custody so that the latter has funds for bringing up the child. The child support is/was not owed to you - it was owed to your motherI think if you attempted to claim at the age of 37, nobody would take you seriously

hr4me

Check with your state/county district attorney's office to see what the laws are for where you live. But are you doing this to get his attention or punish him? I know it's hard not to have a parent in your life but making him pay money to you won't make him want to establish a relationship with you. It will most likely push him further away from you. It seems that for what ever reason he does not want to be a parent to you. It's lousy that he doesn't want to do it, but some people in life are just crummy people.

Seems like your best bet is to move on and just find your own way.

Gertie

Check the statue of limitations If you had done this when you turned 18 there wouldn't be a problem but you are well past 18 now. I can't believe your mother knew who your father was all those years and only introduced you one year before she died. and since your pist at your father you want him to pay all that child support how do you know he didnt pay it in the beginning.

natalie g

I have the same situation and went to an attorney to find out if I could get all the back child support owed me. I had a service for years that could not locate him and I finally received information on his location. Of course it was after my daughter turned 21 yrs of age. The attorney told me there was no recourse. But then someone had told me I could still receive back child support so I called the district attornies office and they said I could still collect. Uhm I am confused> So I am saying yes you can but an attorney won't do it because it will cost them more to work the case then it will be worth to them.

surfbum68m

Sounds like he doesn't nor ever did want to be involved in your life. Be thankful you are probably better off without the douche. It seems as though you want to hurt him, living well is the best revenge. Be thankful you had your mom, if you have kids do well for them. Be happy and let karma take care of your dad.

Simba

I don't know legally but I doubt it. The money usually goes to the parent to help in raising you. As an adult I don't think you could, but I might be wrong.

My question is, it sounds like he's a dead beat dad for not taking interest in you through all these years. Do you really what to be associated with him? I'm sorry for the loss of your mother but unfortuatly you can't force somebody to be a dad (a caring dad).

jjjjjjjjj

Just get over it already. You sound like my whiny little brother who couldn't let anything go.

You're twice as old as the cut off age for you to receive child support. Why are you bringing this up now? Sounds like you just want to be vindictive for some reason and nothing else.

Jessie H

Child support is for the custodial parent to raise the child. Maybe it could be collected for your mom's estate and you could get it that way. You should check with a lawyer

The Monk

no, but i think u can sue him negligence.

flowernthesnow

Each state has their own laws but most work closely the same. Had your mother turned him in he could have gone to jail depending on how much he owed in back C.S. that is if it was ever ordered through a court. One free way to find out is check with Child Support Enforcement at your local Department of Health and Human Services (Social Services) they have a child support enforcement attorney that specializes in those laws only and they should be able to answer that question for you. A man who does not support his child is certainly not to be respected but in order to not harbor bitterness you need to find a way to forgive. It will not hurt him, only you if you do not. After a while a mother just gives up and does what she has to do. Let him live with his own guilt and free yourself. None of us can go back and correct yesterday but we can make today different which will result in a better outcome tomorrow. He could make it up through his grandchildren but it does not sound like he desires this so find a way to let it go. Much easier said than done. . .

Robb

Call a lawyer, you may still have some recourse but I doubt it.

babydoll53175

I wouldnt think so, that would have been up to the other parent that raised you...... But for your father not to be around is a shame, sorry to hear that

chris m

Let it go dude. It will just dredge up old wounds.

Mel

Child support is paid to the custodial parent, not directly to the child. Any support that was owed in your case would have been paid to your mother per whatever agreement she had in place with your father. If she did not pursue or collect support payments when she was eligible to receive them, you cannot file on her behalf at this point.

You MAY, however, be entitled to a portion of his estate if he has a will. Consult with an attorney who specializes in family law in your area since probate laws vary widely.

My other advice to you is of a more personal nature. I know it's very difficult to accept that one's biological parent didn't want and never cared for one. However, you cannot fix what is really his loss. You can make the choice to be consumed by regret and anger over this for the rest of your life, or you can choose to forgive him for his bad choices and move forward. Don't give him the power to make you an emotional cripple.

Best of luck to you.

hazeltine4

The mother is owed Child Support -- not you. And it ends at age 18 or 22 (or college graduation). You were raised well past that age, so you are not owed anything.

Kel

If it's owed from before you were 18, you MIGHT have a chance.....if you're just looking for it now, forget it.

Billy

Seriously? Did YOU raise yourself? Dang people always looking for ways to milk money out of people, like a woman who claims arrears when the father had the children

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