What Are My Rights As a Father After One Night Stand

My question involves child support in the State of: Oregon and South Carolina.
I had a one night stand with an acquaintance in South Carolina that resulted in the conception of a child. The child was born in Oregon. The mother has since moved back to South Carolina. I have no relationship with the mother other than abusive texts, picture messages, and death threats she sends me from her phone. I am not listed on the birth certificate. No paternity test has been administered. I have no interest in co-parenting with the mother due to her mental instability. I have received no official information or requests pertaining to child support, however I have only recently had a stable mailing address. The child will be 1 year of age in a couple of weeks. I'm trying very very hard to start a business, pay a mortgage, and keep my life on track. Every few weeks I receive a barrage of horrible texts usually culminating in death threats and or her stating that she is going to be taking legal action against me for child support and that I will be headed for jail for non-payment, but then nothing happens. I have no Idea what my rights are, and no money to pay for the advise of an attorney. I want to move on with my life. What are my rights? Who do I turn to for information?

You posted this as a question about the enforcement of child support. Yes, when you make a baby you can be compelled to pay support, and if you choose not to live up to your responsibility to support your child you can face additional consequences such as the suspension of licenses (driver's license, professional license), ineligibility for passport renewal, contempt proceedings, and in extreme cases there's a possibility of criminal nonsupport charges.

What do you want to accomplish?


Do you want to order a DNA test to see if this is your child? If it is you will be ordered to pay support. But, you can also request visitation and custody.

If its not, then do you want a no-contact order?

Do you want to do nothing and then wait to be served down the road?

Why can't you block the mother's texts? Or get a new phone. At least the harrassing contact can stop.
Many attorneys will offer a free consultation.

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Quoting Mr. Knowitall

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You posted this as a question about the enforcement of child support. Yes, when you make a baby you can be compelled to pay support, and if you choose not to live up to your responsibility to support your child you can face additional consequences such as the suspension of licenses (driver's license, professional license), ineligibility for passport renewal, contempt proceedings, and in extreme cases there's a possibility of criminal nonsupport charges.

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I absolutely agree with the above. However, until your paternity is established and a court order is made for child support, you owe the mother nothing.

My question is, why in the world would you want to abandon your own child? Why haven't you established paternity and custody/visitation rights?

I agree with all of the others but because of this statement

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Quoting joebrown

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I have received no official information or requests pertaining to child support, however I have only recently had a stable mailing address.

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I also wanted to add that the OP might want to check to make sure that he hasn't been listed as the father by default since he hasn't had a stable mailing address to be served until this point. He could possibly be the father by default if he doesn't check up on it.

How do I check up on it?