Child Support

[AnnW.]

If, in Texas, you have a child out-of-wedlock, can you still file for child support after 11 years?

 

[TxStep]

Yes, however usually child support will not be awarded retroactively to the child's birth. You should also be prepared to have a visitation schedule established.

 

[meshel]

But can't you do a civil lawsuit to get those 11 years of support they should have been paying??

 

[TxStep]

Did you file for child support 11 years ago? Was an order ever issued? Did you do a paternity test?

 

[AnnW.]

The answer to both questions is no. However, a certified letter of notice to the father was sent and received.

 

[AnnW.]

Basically, I want to know if there is still a legal right to have child support paid. Child visitation is an option.

 

[nailtech]

I got child support on my daughter when she was 13... I hired a lawyer to do the papers for me and it cost me 700.00 at the time... I have been receiving child support since then and she will soon be 19 and graduating soon, I could not get the other money cause there was never an order for him to pay, I never asked for it either... (we had only lived together, never married)...he was granted visitation but never took them but maybe twice a year.. now that shes older she sees him more often cause she can hit him up for money to go shopping... she does know how to work him...lol...

 

[OU812]

TxStep (or anyone) are you sure about the retroactive support not being possible?

 

[Whyte Noise]

Generally, child support is retroactive back to the date of filing the motion requesting it only. There are some cases where it's been ordered back to the birth of the child, but those are few and far between. Otherwise, you'd have all kinds of NCP's who are automatically 10's of thousands of dollars behind in support the day the judge signs the order.

 

[OU812]

MissouriGal, thanks so much!

 

[nailtech]

MissouriGal, you said it best......