Categories: Children

Should I continue to pay child support for a child I am not seeing?

Question: My name is on the birth certificate, and I have been paying the Mother $300 in child support each month. We’ve never been to Court, and now she’s not letting me see my child. Should I continue to pay child support for a child I am not seeing?

Answer: Though child support is voluntary at this stage, we recommend you consider continuing to pay it. Under Arizona law, child support is not related to access or visitation. Child support is for your child, not your child’s mother. Also, if you ever plan on legally filing for paternity, the support payments can help your case and help you avoid back payment of child support. If you continue to make voluntary payments, make sure you keep copies and records specifically labeled in case you need to produce them at a later date. If you’re paying by Venmo or some other electronic means, label it “child support.” This prevents her from claiming those payments were gifts.

Cindy Best

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