Monday, March 12, 2012

All the Single Ladies

The term "illegitimacy" is no longer a nasty word. In past generations illegitimacy was taboo, but today it is the norm.  A family statistic quoted in the Miami Herald in February stated that "more than half of births to U.S. women younger than 30 occur outside marriage." Specifically, that group consists of "white women in their 20s who have some college education" according to Child Trends - a Washington research group. So, what's my point in throwing this statistic at you? Well, mainly it's because these unwed mothers are entitled to child support from the child's father. Even if the father is no longer in the picture, he still has a duty to pay child support.  That is the law in Florida, like it or not.  Family mediation is a great forum for resolving this issue with the father of your child. You don't need to fight about child support in court.  A family mediator can sit down with both parents, navigate them through the child support guidelines, and draw up an agreement about child support payments.  Things don't have to be difficult. Claim the child support you deserve.