Hi everyone,
I am in need of some help if at all possible? I’ll try to keep it as brief as I can…
I was in a short relationship with somebody approx 7 years ago we called it off as she was cheating on me, I met somebody else and didn’t have contact with my ex.. I then found about roughly 2 months after being with my current partner (who I am still with now) that my ex was pregnant but she told me it was her new boyfriends (the one she cheated on me with) and it was left at that.
7 years later I receive a letter through the door wanting child maintenance? I am very confused as to where I stand I am in a big panic I haven’t seen her for 7 years or had contact with the child.
I have tried to contact her as I found her details on Google through a social media website but she will not reply to my messages!!
I really don’t know what to do or what to go from here so any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Hi,
Seems reasnable to request a paternity test which can be requested.
Not sure hoow you do this but others here do and be able to offer more advice.
Regards,
Dave
Here's a link to information about this
www.gov.uk/child-maintenance/disagreements-about-parentage
Paternity Law
www.fnf.org.uk/law-and-information/paternity-law
I would agree,
You have very strong grounds to ask for a test to prove its your child before you start paying anything.
Follow the links Mojo has posted for advice.
GTTS
I agree - however, I would suggest that you open a separate account and start putting 15% of your income into this in case the paternity test proves you are the father and you get hit for arrears in maintenance. If it proves you aren't the father, then you have a fund to treat yourself and your partner 🙂
It's worth having a read of this: http://www.dad.info/child-maintenance-options/child-maintenance-faq-s
There's nothing in there that allows the CSA to assume you are the father, so may also be worth a call to the CMO.
I agree - however, I would suggest that you open a separate account and start putting 15% of your income into this in case the paternity test proves you are the father and you get hit for arrears in maintenance. If it proves you aren't the father, then you have a fund to treat yourself and your partner 🙂
It's worth having a read of this: http://www.dad.info/child-maintenance-options/child-maintenance-faq-s
Agreed, without proof then I wouldn't be willing to part with money - just imagine if you were not the father and later on down the line you find that out!
If you have even the slightest bit of doubt, request a paternity test as you are will within your rights to do so but as about, start putting money aside as from now just in case you are the father to avoid a backdated demand while you look into it.
Lloyd
Hi MCarroll
Thank you for your post, I am William the Child Maintenance Options consultant. If the letter you have received is through Child Support Agency (CSA), you may wish to contact them directly to discuss your concerns further. If the person who is asked to pay maintenance denies that they are the parent, the CSA classes this as a disputed parentage case. If a claim is made to the CSA, they will ask the person named if they accept that they are the child's parent. If they deny it, the CSA will look into the reasons why and ask them to provide evidence to support their denial. They will not ask them to pay child maintenance until the dispute has been resolved. You can find out more about what happens when someone denies they are the parent of a child online at www.gov.uk/child-maintenance.
We have a Sorting Out Separation web-app that you may find useful. It offers help and support to separating and separated families. The link is: www.dad.info/divorce-and-separation/sorting-out-separation.
If you would a confidential chat with Child Maintenance Options team or find out more about all the options available for child maintenance, you can call us free on 0800 988 0988 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday or 9am and 4pm on Saturday, alternatively you can visit our website at http://www.cmoptions.org.
William
definatly get the test done mate, get some money put aside incase you are the dad, hope all works out for you