Child Support Laws In Virginia

Summary

In Virginia, both parents are legally obligated to support their child. Child support orders can be enforced by the court. Paternity can be established legally. Contact the Virginia Department of Social Services for further assistance.

Full Conversation

I just have a question or two regarding child support. My son will be eight in December. The father has known about him since before he was born we have taken a paternity test to confirm and I was basically told that him and his family would fight this in court so I’ve been scared to go to court to get child support but I really dont understand if it is even possible for somebody to fight paying child support if you can prove that they are the father and have literally done everything they can to get out of their responsibility ?
What state are you currently residing in, Alex? This will help me provide you with the most accurate information regarding child support laws in your area.
virginia
What is the current custody arrangement for your son? In Virginia, both parents are obligated to support their child, and this is generally enforced through child support orders.
we don’t have an arrangement per se, but the child has been with me full-time since birth. He has never even been in the same room or met his father. That was the father’s choice by the way not mine.
Has the paternity test been legally documented and recognized by a court in Virginia?

In Virginia:
- Both parents are legally obligated to support their child.
- Child support orders can be enforced by the court.
it is not been legally recognized because we’ve never been to court but we did do a paternity test when Atticus, my child, was only five months old in the results for *.*%
What is the name of the father listed on Atticus's birth certificate? This can be crucial in establishing legal paternity.
I did not list one
What is the reason you didn't list the father's name on the birth certificate?
because he wouldn’t speak to me, and had blocked me on everything and was threatening, legal action if I did
What kind of legal action was he threatening you with if you listed him as the father on the birth certificate?
Basically, he just said that him and his family would fight this in court because I should’ve gotten an abortion, but I did not even know I was pregnant until after it was too late to terminate it just irritates me he acts like his life is the only one affected by this, and he has no responsibility for it whatsoever, except for the fact that his wife left him because he never told her about it, and she found out and his parents are extremely rich and it makes me nervous that they’ll hire a good lawyer, who will somehow get him out of this two or want me to split time with him I mean he’s a stranger at this point I have no idea who he is and I would not trust sending my child to be alone with him simply because I know how much he’s tried to keep this a secret from his main life. It makes me scared that he might do something to hurt him.
Have you considered filing a petition for child support in Virginia? The court can establish paternity and enforce child support orders.
I went to an agency called enforcement of child support and filed out paperwork. They sent him a letter, and then I’m not sure what happened after that he was living in Ohio at the time but I’m pretty sure he lives in Washington DC or the Springfield Virginia area now so we’re in the same state I believe that might make it easier since before it was different states.
What was the response from the agency after they sent him a letter?

In Virginia:
- Paternity can be established legally.
- Child support enforcement is possible.
- Contact Virginia Department of Social Services for further assistance: (*) *-*.
I never got a response so I assumed that he never responded but that could’ve been an error on my end or the agencies end and we just didn’t get back in contact with each other and have nothing to do with him. It took me two years to get the paternity test results he’s the one that paid for them and I called the company the lab they send it off to I called like * different places reading off the number that my child has a picture with his identification number I guess for the test nobody actually like they knew anything about it they never heard of his name, my name, my son’s name the number the company I went to and then the only reason I even have a copy of those results is because his wife found them in his email and then found me because my name is on the paper and asked me what it was about
Have you considered contacting the Virginia Department of Social Services again to follow up on your case? They might be able to provide more information or guidance.
I guess that’s the next step I could take I just I’m so nervous because like I said to me, it’s like sending my child to see a stranger if it were to be ruled that way I really I’m just curious if my chances of it happening that way before I pursue anything I’d rather just not receive the child support if it means risking my son having to go spend time with somebody who doesn’t want him here to avoid paying.
What are your main concerns about pursuing child support?

In Virginia:
- Child support and visitation rights are separate issues.
- A parent can't refuse to pay child support to avoid visitation.
- Contact Virginia Department of Social Services for further assistance: (*) *-*.