Kentucky Legal Obligations

[MeMyselfAndI]

My son and his girlfriend live in Kentucky. She is pregnant. He does not want to get married, but says that he recognizes and will fulfill his obligation of financial support for the child. They still live together.

My ex-husband insists that they get married. I say that it will only compound their problems. My ex says that under Kentucky law, our son is under absolutely no legal obligation to support this child and so my ex feels that getting married will at least force our son to legally have to face his responsibilites.

I obviously have no idea what the law is in Kentucky (neither I, nor my ex-husband, live in that state). Anybody know? Thanks ...

[jojo4]

In order for your son to be held legally responsible, a child support order will have to be issued. As long as they are living together, an order will most likely not be issued because he IS contributing to the support of the child (supposedly...it is assumed he is not out spending all of his money on beer, women and cigs while his gf is supporting the household and child by herself.)

Personal advice warning:

I have been in the position you son is in, only from the other side. I am the mother. I refused to marry my ex (a very good decision on my part). If he doesn't want to get married, entering a marriage under duress or force from outside infulences isn't going to help the situation. That is a decision the two people involved in the relationship will have to make.

[MeMyselfAndI]

What my ex-husband is afraid of, is that our son will decide to run for it. He has wanted to get out of this relationship for some time, but hasn't had the nerve to do it and now of course there's going to be a baby.

I'm sure it's all a bit scary for a 24-year-old to deal with, but I don't think he'll skip out. He may leave the relationship, but I believe that he at least feels a moral obligation to support the child.

So I guess my question is, under Kentucky law, even if he does decide to leave, he can still be held legally responsible for the child as long as his girlfriend files some kind of child support papers? Is that what you're saying has to be done?

[Baystategirl]

What my ex-husband is afraid of, is that our son will decide to run for it. He has wanted to get out of this relationship for some time, but hasn't had the nerve to do it and now of course there's going to be a baby.

I'm sure it's all a bit scary for a 24-year-old to deal with, but I don't think he'll skip out. He may leave the relationship, but I believe that he at least feels a moral obligation to support the child.

So I guess my question is, under Kentucky law, even if he does decide to leave, he can still be held legally responsible for the child as long as his girlfriend files some kind of child support papers? Is that what you're saying has to be done?

Yes, he would be held legally responsible.

[MeMyselfAndI]

Well, that's basically all I wanted to know.

I found it really hard to believe what my ex-husband said about Kentucky law being such that he would not be legally responsible at all, unless they got married. Sounded like a lot of bullsh*t to me.

[jojo4]

It was.

If your son decides to bolt and doesn't support the child, it will be up to his gf to apply for child support. Also, if he is being honest about supporting the child, but wants out of the relationship, he can file to establish a support order. Until a child support order is in effect, he has no legal obligation to support the child. Once that order is in effect, he will be legally obligated to support the child, whether he wants to or not.

http://chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dcs/

http://chfs.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/06AD...dQuestions.doc

[MeMyselfAndI]

Thank you very much for the info.