Can deadbeat dad be forced to get a job?

[80999]

My daughter and her husband moved from Pennsylvania to Arizona earlier this year. A few weeks ago he abandoned her and moved back to PA and is living with his mother.

She has a 1 year old daughter, is pregnant and due to deliver next month. She’s stuck in a 3 bedroom apt with no income, no money for bills, food, diapers, etc. and no hope of getting a job (being 8 months pregnant).

Husband is a registered nurse that could never hold onto a job more than a few weeks (drug use and/or misc health problems).

Can he be forced to get a job to support my daughter and grandchildren?

 

[strider5]

no more than you can force a horse to drink.

seriously though, how do you think anyone could *force* anyone else to do anything? have the police escort him daily to a job at gunpoint?

and if he has never held a steady job for long, you cant claim he is underemployed. your daughter picked a real winner from the sounds of it.

 

[VeronicaGia]

My daughter and her husband moved from Pennsylvania to Arizona earlier this year. A few weeks ago he abandoned her and moved back to PA and is living with his mother.

She has a 1 year old daughter, is pregnant and due to deliver next month. She’s stuck in a 3 bedroom apt with no income, no money for bills, food, diapers, etc. and no hope of getting a job (being 8 months pregnant).

Husband is a registered nurse that could never hold onto a job more than a few weeks (drug use and/or misc health problems).

Can he be forced to get a job to support my daughter and grandchildren?

How long have they been married? If she files for custody and child support, he can be court ordered to pay child support. But if he refuses to work, she will likely not see the money.

If their marriage is a short one, alimony will be out of the question. She needs to learn how to stand on her own two feet by getting a job and supporting herself. I realize that since she's 8 mos. along this will not be easy. But she made her own bed with this man and now she'll have to deal with it like an adult.

 

[nextwife]

If he has no real history of supporting HER, he is unlikely to be ordered to pay alimony. While she can get a (likely modest, based on his earnings history) CO for child support, that is for his share of supporting the child, collecting is another story. SHE will probably need to plan to support herself, however.

As stated, she already knew he had a spotty record of employment, if he's never really held a job long.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

Have your daughter go to social services, the immediate concern is for her and her children, they can assist with support, medical care and referals for legal needs. The court will decide support issues, abandonment or failure to remain employed to avoid payig C/S doesn't cut it. At least her immediate needs will be met. The state of Arizona will go after the dad for C/S at least they know where he is.

 

[mightydog29]

can she go after him for abandonment?

 

[skp216]

How long have they been married? If she files for custody and child support, he can be court ordered to pay child support. But if he refuses to work, she will likely not see the money.

If their marriage is a short one, alimony will be out of the question. She needs to learn how to stand on her own two feet by getting a job and supporting herself. I realize that since she's 8 mos. along this will not be easy. But she made her own bed with this man and now she'll have to deal with it like an adult.

And as an adult, He will have to deal with the possibility of imprisonment. Nuf said.

 

[stealth2]

And as an adult, He will have to deal with the possibility of imprisonment. Nuf said.

Not until there is a court order for support, bucko.

OP - can you help your daughter out financially until she has the child, and then move the three of them back to PA to you? Would his mother be willing/able to provide something in the short term (these are her grandkids, too)?