QUESTION
Pregnant - Absent Father. State Assistance vs Child Support
Asked on Jul 01st, 2014 on Child Support - California
More details to this question:
I'm 7.5-months pregnant & though the father claims he wants to be involved he has been MIA for 6-months. Sadly I could really use state assistance for the 1st year & have recently applied for CalWorks & WIC (CA based programs). However, I have been told that unless I #1) provide as much info as possible on the father & #2) attempt to collect child support I may not get approved. The conflict here is that I have already sought legal advice & was warned that unless the father signs to birth certificate I will not be able collect child support.. Does this mean I'm SOL? If the father doesn't come to the hospital/sign the birth certificate will our daughter be denied CalWorks & WIC support? This is not the way I wanted to bring a child into the world, but it is my reality. I intend to go back to work within 4-months, yet still need help with daycare costs in the beginning - with or without the daddy. Ideally, I'd like to convince the father to relinquish his rights, if possible.
1 ANSWER
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When you give birth, the hospital will ask who the father is. At that point you would tell them the dad's name. When you're ready, you can go to Child Support Services to request child support.
There is no such thing as 'giving up rights' to a child. If you were to marry, your spouse could file for a Step-parent Adoption and if the dad agrees, he would then be giving up his rights.
Answered on Jul 01st, 2014 at 4:58 PM