child support

[mel_b_26]

im 16 years old and i became pregnant me and my bf whos 18 stayed together for a few months after we found out but then we broke up and didnt talk for a bit then the next time i talked to him he told me he had joined the army. i was never really planning on asking for child support because i jus dont want all the stress or to have to see him again we havent talked in a while now but that was before when i thought there was a chance that he would come back...after talking with my counselor at school she told me that if someone is in the army it is illegal for them to deny a child so he is basically forced to pay child support if he told the army about the baby and if he didnt then he could go to jail or something like that...i wanna know if i could get some information on all that because i also dont kno if i can file for it because he is barely in basic training and i am still 7 months pregnant do i have to wait till the baby is born to do something about it or until im also 18 or until he actually has a job in the army? :confused:

[Tacky]

The very first thing I would do, would be to get in touch with him. Try to stay on friendly terms - the last thing your child needs is two parents that cannot, and will not get along. You may find he wants to be a part of the child's life, and is willing to set up support payments on his own.

If you cannot get in touch with him, contact your local recruiter (if your boyfriend was local to your area) and see if you can find out if/when he enlisted. The recruiter should be able to get you in touch with his current duty station, mostly likely - if he is a recent enlistee, he's at basic training.

If he has not informed the military of the child, or doesn't know about the child, he may contest the paternity. The military considers this a civil matter - so you will have to go through civil court if this is the case.

Army Regulation 608-99, 32 C.F.R. § 584, requires a soldier to provide support for family members. In the absence of an order or agreement, it establishes interim support guidelines, defined in terms of a soldier’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), a nontaxable housing allowance paid to all military personnel not living in government quarters or who are separated from their family members. The amount of BAH depends on geographic location, the servicemember’s rank, and whether or not she has dependents. There is no additional amount if there is more than one dependent.

The point of initial enforcement for support is the unit commander. The Army cannot just take money from a soldier’s paycheck and send it to your client. Regulations do, however, establish a duty to pay support, and the Army can punish a soldier who fails to comply with this requirement. And DFAS will honor any valid garnishment order. Your best bet for getting support is to use AR 608-99 as a temporary measure pending a hearing, and to get a court order at your earliest opportunity.

To read the best summary of all military support regulations, go to www.jagcnet.army.mil/tjaglcs, click on “TJAGLCS Publications,” go to “Legal Assistance,” select “54th Legal Assistance Course Deskbook, Main Volume,” and click on “DOD Family Support.”

http://www.dod.mil/dfas/money/garnish/fplamed.pdf

The link above should give you all of the information you need.

As I said, try talking to him first - if that doesn't work, use these options.

[SoldierofAmerica]

That is very solid advice, one thing that I would like to add, if he wants to deny paternity by law (at least here in Colorado) He would have to pay for the DNA test, which is quite pricey. The Army will force him to pay by taking the child support out of his check. I agree that you should stay on friendly terms with him. also be glad that he is in a situation that he will have to pay and you will not have to raise the child without financial assistance from the father, especially at your age this is becoming all too rare.

[cortez]

I can't belive this... why all the wining ... I am trying to join the army, and have 3 kids. Not one of the mothers give me child support. I honestly don't need it, and refused to ask for it. I think we all have options, and have to be responsible. The girl made the choice to keep the kids, and when they started wining about child support, I took all 3 of them to court, and got full custody of all 3. I say step up, and be responsible for the choice you made, yes he did have part of it, but remember it was more your choice then his. I am not sure if you are able to take care of the child on your own, or not but please this is getting to old. every time a girl has a kid the first thing out of they're mouths is child (support). I take care of all 3 of my kids, and I dont scoop that low to ask for child support even tho it was they're choice to keep them. damn! people . that's why they say kids ! should not have kids! if they are not ready.

[Zeus185]

I can't belive this... why all the wining ... I am trying to join the army, and have 3 kids. Not one of the mothers give me child support. I honestly don't need it, and refused to ask for it. I think we all have options, and have to be responsible. The girl made the choice to keep the kids, and when they started wining about child support, I took all 3 of them to court, and got full custody of all 3. I say step up, and be responsible for the choice you made, yes he did have part of it, but remember it was more your choice then his. I am not sure if you are able to take care of the child on your own, or not but please this is getting to old. every time a girl has a kid the first thing out of they're mouths is child (support). I take care of all 3 of my kids, and I dont scoop that low to ask for child support even tho it was they're choice to keep them. damn! people . that's why they say kids ! should not have kids! if they are not ready.

3 kids 3 diffrent mothers you devil:p i agree with you though people have to take responsiblity for there actions but as the old saying go`s "even monkeys fall outa trees"
but unlike a lot of fathers i know youv took custody of your kids good man.....saw your other post i hope you get in the army.......study hard and eat you greens and youll do fine;) (seriously i hope get in buddy)

[jmm001847]

I can't belive this... why all the wining ... I am trying to join the army, and have 3 kids. Not one of the mothers give me child support. I honestly don't need it, and refused to ask for it. I think we all have options, and have to be responsible. The girl made the choice to keep the kids, and when they started wining about child support, I took all 3 of them to court, and got full custody of all 3. I say step up, and be responsible for the choice you made, yes he did have part of it, but remember it was more your choice then his. I am not sure if you are able to take care of the child on your own, or not but please this is getting to old. every time a girl has a kid the first thing out of they're mouths is child (support). I take care of all 3 of my kids, and I dont scoop that low to ask for child support even tho it was they're choice to keep them. damn! people . that's why they say kids ! should not have kids! if they are not ready.

That goes two ways man sure you can support them but maby she cant and she need diapers and wipes and food and everything and she may still be in school and she cant just leave the baby home while she goes to work and school ect.

Ye gotta consider this from all different angles.