3 Reasons Men End Up Paying Child Support for Someone Else’s Child!!!

Posted by Corey L. Scott | Sep 17, 2023 | 0 Comments

Men are obligated by law to support their children, whether they are married to the mother or not. This support comes in the form of providing financial resources for the child's education, medical needs, and daily essentials — a.k.a child support.

Although unknown to many, there are men who end up shelling out money for child support for years only to find out later that the child wasn't theirs to begin with. There are three reasons this happens, mostly owing to the urgency of the whole process.

1.   Timing

After a child is born, the supposed father is only given 72 hours to sign off on a paternity affidavit to put his name on the birth certificate and have the child take his last name. With the child being born, the paternity affidavit is just one of many pieces of paperwork that need to be taken care of.

Everything is happening all at once and so quickly that the thought of disputing paternal relationships often gets thrown out the door.

2.   Misunderstanding

The urgency of signing the paternity affidavit also leads to misunderstanding about what it is and what it's for. Many men sign the document under the impression that it's just a formality to put him in the birth certificate and give the child their last name.

However, a paternity affidavit is actually a legally binding document. Once it is signed, the man is confirming that he is indeed the child's father and only has 60 days to go to court and request a DNA test to prove that the child is theirs.

3.   Social Pressure

Social pressure can also come into play, causing men to stay quiet about their suspicions and sign the paternity affidavit immediately. Of course, they don't want to offend the mother and accuse her of sleeping around, especially during a stressful moment of having a child.

But instead of worrying about and giving into social pressure, men should think about themselves. They could very well be on the hook for 18 years of child support regardless if a subsequent DNA test reveals that they are the father or not.

So it's important that they read the document properly, talk to their lawyers, and take advantage of the procedural rules to confirm that the child is theirs, to begin with.

About the Author

Corey L. Scott

Corey L. Scott, was born and raised in East Chicago, Indiana. Upon graduation from East Chicago Central High School, Corey attended Indiana State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology.  Upon graduation, Corey accepted a position with the Marion County Superior Court, Juvenile Division where he served with distinction for the next nine years, eventually being promoted to Director of the Youth Counseling Department. Pursuing his dream of becoming an attorney, Corey attended the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis.  While in law school, Corey was an Indiana Council on Legal Education Opportunity (ICLEO) fellow and participated in Moot Court competitions.  He also worked in the Marion Superior Court, Criminal Division as a bailiff and research assistant to the Honorable Tanya Walton Pratt, who serves as a Judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Corey also served as an internship law clerk to the Honorable Judge, Margret G. Robb, at the Indiana Court of Appeals. Finally, upon graduation from law school, Corey had the distinct honor and privilege to serve as a law clerk to the Honorable Justice, Robert D. Rucker, who sits on the Indiana Supreme Court. Corey then became an associate with Mike Norris Law Office, where he specialized in bankruptcy law with a main concentration on working to assist families obtain a fresh start through Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  Still a young attorney, Corey then served as a public defender at the Marion County Public Defender Agency.  In this position, Corey gained invaluable trial experience by defending clients in a wide range of matters from misdemeanors to serious felonies on a daily basis.  It was also during this time that Corey discovered his passion for representing and serving "everyday people." An entrepreneur at heart, Corey established the Law Office of Corey L. Scott, P.C.  Since then, he and his staff have served the greater Indianapolis community and surrounding counties in several legal disciplines including: Bankruptcy, Criminal Defense and Family Law.  In keeping with his vision, Corey L. Scott, P.C., is a client focused, results oriented general law practice that endeavors to provide legal solutions for "everyday people" charged with a crime, dealing with financial crisis or going through a difficult divorce. Corey has also been active serving the greater Indianapolis community by participating in pro bono programs such as "Ask a Lawyer," the "Modest Means" panel program which allows individuals to afford legal counsel at a fraction of normal rates, Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic and the Heartland Pro Bono Council program. Corey is a proud member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, Indiana Bar Association, American Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.

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