Full question:
My boyfriend acknowledged his paternity of my child a few months back. Until now, he was even helping me financially to look after the baby. Now he is refusing to give money for the baby's expenses. He says that he is not bound by law to provide child support. What can I do?
- Category: Minors
- Subcategory: Support
- Date:
- State: Mississippi
Answer:
Your boyfriend should pay child support to the child as he has acknowledged his paternity under Mississippi law. If he is refusing to help you financially in looking after the child then you can file a complaint against him and the court may punish your boyfriend with an imprisonment up to 5 years or $100-$500 fine.Miss. Code Ann. § 97-5-3 says:
“Desertion or nonsupport of child under age eighteen
Any parent who shall desert or wilfully neglect or refuse to provide for the support and maintenance of his or her child or children, including the natural parent of an illegitimate child or children wherein paternity has been established by law or when the natural parent has acknowledged paternity in writing, while said child or children are under the age of eighteen (18) years shall be guilty of a felony and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished for a first offense by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($ 100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($ 500.00), or by commitment to the custody of the Department of Corrections not more than five (5) years, or both; and for a second or subsequent offense, by a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($ 1,000.00) nor more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($ 10,000.00), or by commitment to the custody of the Department of Corrections not less than two (2) years nor more than five (5) years, or both, in the discretion of the court.”
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.
