Child Support - Help!

[confused25]

Can anyone offer any help or advice? My partner has been approached by some woman he met years ago and is claiming that he is the father of her 6 year old son and that we are going to have to start supporting her!
We are so worried! He had no idea she was even pregnant! Does she have any rights to start demanding money from us after all these years? She claims that she posted a note through his letter box when she was 5 months pregnant but that was the extent of her efforts as she wanted to raise the baby on her own. Help!! I am quite frightened, we have a huge mortgage and want to have kids of our own! We will have no money if we have to start paying maintanance! We will obviously have tests done first, but wondered if anyone had any advice or knew anything about this type of situation!
Thank you!

[Ethel]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if she is on benefits and names your partner as the father, he will have to pay maintenance. Of course he should have DNA to prove it.

This is a famous case of a few years ago, but is a good demonstration of how the system works:

http://www.equaljustice.ca/cgi-bin/forum.cgi/n oframes/read/20086
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/arti cle142638.ece

And a more recent case:
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kol08/article/defa ult.asp?article_id=39717

[lil75]

I would personally arrange a DNA Test, then if he is the father, I would try and come to an agreement without the involvement of the CSA, the CSA in my opinion abuse the fathers that are willing to pay anyway...I know of cases where the fathers have never paid a penny and the CSA dont chase them up enough....what a shock for you...good luck!

[cazzz1975]

if she is claiming benefits it will have to go through the CSA, she will not receive any of the money personally, she will just continue to receive her benefits.

Of course the first step would be to arrange a DNA test, the csa can arrange that.

[confused25]

Thank you everyone! I think it's just such a huge shock! It was a big enough thing to know he could have a child let alone the fact the mother wants money!
I can't help think that the whole system is completely unfair! If a woman choses not not tell someone she is pregnant, denies them any chance to know about the child or even be a part of it's life (Which I am sure my partner would have stepped up to), surely she loses the right to demand support 6 years down the line! I agree, it takes two to tango and men should support their children, but surely there should be some sort of line? Perhaps I am just seeing it from my point of view but it makes sense! Thanks again everyone! Let's just hope the test gives us a bit of good news and that she has sadly made a mistake!