Family law question - Child Support/Maintenance

[Pko1977]

My father disappeared somewhere in America in the 1980s, not in a sinister way that is. He wrote to my mother and said he had met someone else and that he wouldn't be back. He also said that he would send money. He told the truth about not coming back and lied about the money.

My mother subsequently got a divorce in his absence, after a scrap at any rate. Life as a single parent family in 1980s Britain was tight to say the least.

My question is, could he be pursued for unpaid child maintenance, or whatever it would be called as there was no court order etc., or has that ship sailed long ago?

This question has been prompted by my wife possibly finding him alive and well in South Carolina. My mother is adamant that he can stay there, but it would be nice to know what the options are nonetheless.

thanks

[leclerc]

Re: Family law question - Child Support/Maintenance

Does you mother want anything to do with him at all? If not then I don't think the question is really relevant to be honest....

[Pko1977]

Re: Family law question - Child Support/Maintenance

Well thanks for that. Given that you aren't here you have gleaned quite a lot from my post. We found out TODAY and I just wanted to know what, if anything, could be done.

[Openlaw15]

Re: Family law question - Child Support/Maintenance

My father disappeared somewhere in America in the 1980s, not in a sinister way that is. He wrote to my mother and said he had met someone else and that he wouldn't be back. He also said that he would send money. He told the truth about not coming back and lied about the money.

My mother subsequently got a divorce in his absence, after a scrap at any rate. Life as a single parent family in 1980s Britain was tight to say the least.

My question is, could he be pursued for unpaid child maintenance, or whatever it would be called as there was no court order etc., or has that ship sailed long ago?

This question has been prompted by my wife possibly finding him alive and well in South Carolina. My mother is adamant that he can stay there, but it would be nice to know what the options are nonetheless.

thanks

As he has been in America so long it's likely he's by now an American citizen so his American state law (jurisdiction), ie South Carolina will apply. I personally do not think that anything can be done about it now, even if it were possible it sounds very expensive legal remedies if they are available.

[Amethyst]

Re: Family law question - Child Support/Maintenance

Was a claim for child support made at the time your father left or soon after ? If not, I don't believe there is a claim in that respect as anything would be backdated from when the CSA claim was made.

[Pko1977]

Re: Family law question - Child Support/Maintenance

Thanks for the responses. To be honest I suspected as much. In terms of any claim, none was made as he could not be found, interpol were involved as I understand it (I was 4). The other thing is that I really don't think that legal action is the way I would like to do things, if we choose to do anything at all., but I like to know my options wherever possible.

Thanks again

[Amethyst]

Re: Family law question - Child Support/Maintenance

Good luck xx