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When is a father legally required to pay child support?
Anonymous4 views2 answers
My wife has decided to move out two weeks ago but not get a divorce yet. I've given her a full large box of diapers, a large box of wipes and two containers of formula. She insists that I buy our daughter more or she will contact her lawyer to force me to pay child support.
Answer #1: This doesn't seem like an unreasonable request. Babies require a lot of stuff. Answer #2: She can almost certainly put you on child support if you're separated. Answer #3: Even if you give her more stuff, she's probably going to put you on child support anyway.
I agree with Mr. McBride, and only add that while providing supplies for the child may been seen as providing support when there isn't a court order, a box of diapers, a box of wipes, and two containers of formula probably isn't going to be viewed by the Court as much support.
It would likely be easier to go ahead and agree on an amount for support. If you don't provide for the financial needs of the child now, when you do go to Court the judge can award retroactive child support back to the date of separation so you may be better off figuring out something now instead of later on being required to pay current support plus retroactive support.
