Should a man still have to pay child support if child drops out of school at 16?

You are so right that both parents are responsible for the well being of the child and making sure their child do the right thing. They both helped bring the child in the world and share responsibilities. One parent should not be blamed for what happens. They should both try and get their child to go to school and do well so they succeed. This is coming from someone that does not even have a child.

I couldnt have said it better myself. Ever since the guy left me in my pregnancy, Ive been a strong advocate of having fathers in a childs life. And some fathers like to make excuses after a few years of not having seen their children or paying support.

Well, all of that being said.! I do know my husband has made it clear that zach would finish school, he has paid for extra help with his school work. So that it could be done at school because the mother does not care if it is done or not.My husband had to go to the school to get to see the child report card.His ex would not show it to him,siad it was none of his business.He knew the other two kids dropped out at 16. So he wanted to make sure Zach was doing well enough to want to finish.Both parents should get a say in this type of matter BUT THEY DO NOT!!!!I guess when you have a mother that for some reason trys to make it sound so cool.She has always told her kids stories about how cool it was for her to get up and watch everyone else go to school while she stayed home. Now Zach is the only one in that family that goes to school .Everyone else gets up early and goes riding 4 wheelers. One more thing you can not make a child do something if it does not live in the house with you when it's mother seems to want them to drop out. So yes we lay the blame on her and until you know this woman. I have said enough.We just want him to finish high school. i think the laws should be changed. Wonder who a person would have to talk to about it? Well hope the law about not getting a premit kicks in if child does not finish school. Some laws need to be changed..

I think his complaint is valid. The father of the girl is upset but is disappointed also. Her current parents should have the responsibility once they have lent their surnames to her. I feel empathy for this guy.

I agree... My senior year in high school, I was terribly unhappy and I cut school a lot. Now as an adult, I wish I didn't, but me cutting school was not either of my parents fault. I think that the 16 year old needs to have a talk with both parents and set up some kind of a plan with that they want to do with their life. Child support, yes I think it should still be paid. Going to school does not make a difference in child support for the 16 year old.

Well that is now and has never just the matter in my case.I was always making sure that I knew what was going on with my child. Even like went I had to run down a report card in the four grade.His mother decided that I did not have a right to see his report card.I had to get the school to send a extra proof of childs school pictures . After the ex got remarried I was not aloud to go to parents nights because her new husband was there.She moved 11 hours round trip to other end of state to be where her boyfriend moved (now husband). I went down for a birthday(the weekend of)it was not my weekend but the child wanted me there.The mother was asked, I had planned to stay at childs grandmas. We would not have went anywhere without a grandparent because I know how she is.She said that would be fine because child always stayed with grandma on every weekend. Well I get there after about 45 minutes she comes in tells me I have to leave. The child starts crying, my ex's mother starts yelling at her wanting to know why she changed her mind.I told her i would leave start thing in the morning so she call the police. The police got there she told them I was going to try to kiddnapp the child.They asked me to leave so I did.Her mother said her why she did that she said becuase Ricky (her new man) got mad at her for letting me come down early.her own mother did not speak to her for 4 month , thats how bad that night was. SO I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE IF NOT I WOULD NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS STUPID TALK OF MY A AND B REPORT CARD CHILD WANTING TO DROP OUT AT 16. IF CHILD WAS NOT MAKING THE GRADE LIKE BEFORE I GOT HIM HELP. I PAID THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO HELP HIM AT SCHOOL AND IT WORKED.IF THAT HAD NOT HELP THEN I GUESS I WOULD HAVE TRIED TO GIVE ON IT. NO ONE COULD HELP HIM WITH ANYTHING AS LONG AS HE IS AROUND HER.THE CHILD HAD ASKED HER FOR HELP, MY EX GOT MAD OVER THAT. I AM STILL VERY INVOLED BUT THE MOTHER DOES WANT HIM TO TAKE ME ANY RESPECT. THATS WHAT SHE TEACHES HIM.MOST WOMAN SAY THEY WOULD LOVE FOR THE CHILDS FATHER TO BE AS ACTIVE AS I AM. BELIEVE ME I HAVE LOST JOBS BY JUST TRYING TO BE THERE FOR EVENTS IN MY CHILDS LIFE.YOU KNOW MY EX DOES NOT EXPLAIN TO THE CHILD THAT IF I AM NOT THERE I HAD TO WORK SHE TELLS THE CHILD HE JUST DID NOT WANT TO COME , HE HAD SOMETHING BETTER TO DO. YES, SOMETIMES I DO!!IT IS CALLED STAYING OUT OF JAIL.YOU KNOW IF A MAN DOES NOT PAID THT $705.00 A MONTH PLUS DOCTOR BILLS HE GOES TO JAIL. WE GUYS CAN NOT GO IT NO PUBLIC ASSISTANCES TO HELP OUT BUT WE ARE STILL SUPPOST TO BE THERE ON BEG AND CALL. I HAVE SISTERS THE BOSS THEY HAVE UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THEY ARE MOMMY BUT AS FAR AS US MEN THE BOSS JUST ASK DON'T THAT KID HAVE A MOTHER.SOME MEN HAVE LITTLE SKILLS AND CAN NOT TKAE THE CHANCE OF GETTING FIRED/LAIDOFF. AS FOR ME I NOW HAVE LIMITED PLACES I COULD WORK IF WERE TO HAVE TO START RUNNING BACK AND FORTH AGAIN. I AM GLAD YOUR CHILD FINISHED THE SCHOOL THING AND IS NOW DOING BETTER.GOOD JOB TO YOU !!!! MAYBE SHE WAS JUST HAVING SOME DEALING WITH SOMEONE AT SCHOOL OR MAYBE EASIER TO DO AT HOME ONLINE. I KNOW MY EX SHE WOULD NOT TRY TO GET HIM TO DO ANYTHING. I BOUGHT THE CHILD A COMPUTER.SHE SOLD IT 2 WEEKS LATER BECAUSE SHE GOT UP IN THE NIGHT AND FOUND HER NEW HUSBAND IN A CHAT ROOM. NOW BECAUSE OF THAT MY CHILD WAS NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A COMPUTER. MOST HOMES HAVE MORE THAN ONE COMPUTER.. WELL THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY

SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD... YES A LOT OF PARENTS HERE WORRY WAY TO MUCH ABOUT GETTING THE LAW CALLED.I FEEL IT IS MY CHILD , WHEN HE IS WITH ME HE WILL MIND OR I TAKE OUT THAT ROD.. WITH ME FAMILY IS IMPORTANT, I STAYED WITH MY CHILDS MOTHER AS LONG AS I COULD.I WAS WATCHING MY SON AND HER OTHER TWO KIDS WITH SHE WAS AT BINGO.SO SHE SAID BUT SHE WAS NOT AT BINGO SHE WAS OUT SLEEPING WITH OTHER WOMENS HUSBANDS. THOSE GUYS WIFES CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW.AFTER THE FIRST ONE I MOVED INTO MY SON ROOM.I WAS THERE TWO MONTHS THEN I GOT NEW THAT SHE HAD GOT OUT AND GOT HERSELF AN STD. MY PARENTS WAS THERE WHEN I FOUND THIS OUT.THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO THINK THINGS OVER MAYBE I COULD GET MY SON.WE GOT DIVORCED BECAUSE OF ALL THE CHEATING SHE WAS DOING.I JUST KNEW THE JUDGE WOULD LET ME HAVE MY SON.I HAD 9 GUYS THAT CAME UP TO ME AND SAID THEY WOULD GO TO COURT WITH ME BECAUSE SHE GAVE AL OF THEM THE SDT.YOU KNOW WHEN SHE WAS FOOLING AORUND BEFORE I FOUND OUT SHE WOULD COME HOME AND HAVE TO HAVE IT AGAIN.SO IF I HAD NEVER GOT THAT FIRST CALL I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THAT SDT TOO.I COULD NOT LIVE THERE AND NOT BE IN BEDROOM WITH HER SO I HAD TO GET OUT. SHE LEFT ,TOOK THE KIDS BECAUSE I WAS STAYING IN THE OTHER BEDROOM.I WAS WORKING EVERYDAY MAKING 22.00 AND HOUR (I DO NOT MAKE THAT NOW).I CAME HOME , PICKED ALL KIDS FROM HER MOTHERS EVEN ON HER DAYS OFF,I WENT HOME WASHED OFF , STARTED FIXING DINNER.MOST TIMES I WOULD HAVE THE KIDS FEED, BATHED, AND BE PUTING THEM TO BED WHEN SHE ROLLED IN.SOMETIMES I WULD GO BACK DOWN STAIRS AND EAT MY DINNER,TIRED OF WAITING ON HER, GET UP DO THE DISHES, AND PUT HERS IN THE MICORWAVE.THATS WAS 9 AND 10 AT NIGHT.SHE WORKED DAYS.I HAVE NEVER HIT A WOMEN, I DID THINK ABOUT ITWHEN I FOUND OUT EVERYTHING SHE HAD BEEN DOING BUT I DID NOT.I COULD NOT PUNISH HER TWO KIDS BUT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WATCHING THEM IN THE EVENING. I DO NOT WANT TO GET OUT OF PAYING CHILD SUPPORT.I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TO HAVE A SAY IN MY CHILD NOT FINISHING SCHOOL.HIS MOTHER IS ALL FOR IT. I DO NOT KNOW ONE PERSON IN THAT FAMILY THAT HAS FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL. MY CHILD MAY HAVE A LOT OF THEM IN IT BUT HE ALSO A LOT OF ME IN HIM TOO. AS MY FRIENDS TELL ME THEY HOPE SO BECAUSE HE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE ME AT ALL.NO ACTIONS LIKE ME. HE HAS BEEN MINE FOR 14 YEARS NOW. IF IT WAS SOMEOTHER GUY.I WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE THE ONE THAT WAS KILLED IN ACCIDENT . BESIDES UNLESS IT IS FOR THE MONEY WHY WOULD A WOMEN LET A CHILD COME UP TO STAY WITH A MAN AND HIS GRANDMA. I DO NOT THINK SHE WOULD, SHE NEVER LET THE OTHER two see the father or fathers.am i a good father i can not say i am.my son would have to tell you that. my ex would say no but i am always wanting to know about my son, i call to much, i think i can just come anytime i want too.i see it if he needs someone and they are not going to be there , i will be there.my ex tells everyone that i should buy my sons clothes at dollar store. that i spend to much money on his clothes,i could give that money to her and she could do much more with it.i would like to know why she thinks $705.00 a month is not enough for her. when her mother ,my mother and i buy everything the child wears ,need, uses,dreams of if i can find it. no i am not buying hima new 4 wheeler to many people are getting hurt and her mother tells me his mother and her boyfriends calls him chicken if he does not do the jumps that they make.he has already wrecked twice.once all of them adults was drinking and not watching.

IN THIS CASE YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO COLLEGE.WHY WOULD YOU SUPPORT HIM. HE/SHE IS NOT JUST LAYING AT HOME.IF MY CHILD WAS TO TRY TO QIUCK SCHOOL HE WOULD GET A JOB TO PAY FOR HIS EXTRAS. HE WOULS SEE HOW HIS LIFE WOULD BE IF HE HAS NO EDUCATION.I HAVE MY CHILD PEOPLE,MY EX WAS TO LAZY TO GET UP AND MAKE SURE HE GOT OF TO SCHOOL.She went to jail and the judge told me to come pick him up. He has been with me ever since. He was failing when he lived with her , now he makes straight A's. I have to send his copies record cards to the judge.All I know is if he was still with her he would have dropped out of school and I was not going to let it happen.I love my son and I WANT HIM TO HAVE A BETTER LIVE. EDUCATION IS THE KEY AND MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN EDUCATION WILL AGREE WITH ME. UNLESS SOMEONE IS GOING TO SAY THEIR OWN CHILD IS DEPRESSED, UNABLE TO LEARN FOR SOME REASON, I WOULD FIND OUT WHY OR WHAT WAS GOING ON. EVERYTHING HAS A REASON IF YOU JUST GIVE UP THEN YOU SHOULD SEND THEM TO THE OTHER PARENT. LET THEM TRY BUT LETTING THEM QUICK SCHOOL SHOULD BE ILLEGAL.I HOPE TO SEE IT BECOME A LAW ONE DAY WHERE IF A CHILD QUICKS SCHOOL THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE. This was a good discussion that is all....This is one of my friends life we are talking about not mine...

In Arizona it is legal for a child to drop out of high school. There is no law to assist a parent in having their child stay in school past 16. But your right, both parents should be held accountable for setting the example and importance of staying in schoool.

Thank you..I think a few of us care about the childs well being.. Thats what I wanted people to think about with this question.My husbands ex has three kids in all. One is now 20, one is now 18, and my stepson is 14.My husband could not say anything about the other two but this is a very up setting matter. Her other two kids are not working because they can not find jobs. I guess she dropped out and thinks is okay for them too.I all ways want a better life for my child.Like some people wrote back saying that child support should still be paid because kid/kids would be home more and they would eat more.To that I said if you let them drop out you feed them or tell them to find a job.At 16 they can work at wendy's,McD's. Let them see how the rest of life is going to be for themwithout that diploma.

wait just a minute... if you would read the whole thing you would see that was not my child that changed his name.it was something i was reading on another website. as far as being in my childs life.i have been there when it was not my time to be there.one of his classese was having a meeting for just 8 of the kids mine included.my son told me about it. i told my ex i wanted to know everything that was said, she reply i am not going to that sh*t. so i took off work drove 5 1/2 hours to get there.my son told her i was going to be there so she did not even drop the child off.the school call his homesomeone answered told her the child had to be there with a adult. she told them she was busy they told her his father is here. well she hang up came to the school with the police.so they would make me leave because her new husband gets mad if she does not have them run me down when i come on non visitation times.i have been there how do you think i know that my 14 year old can't wait until he is 16 so he can stop going to school.just like his mother did, his brother did, his sister did, and his stepfather. his mother is telling how cool it is to stay at home while others go to school. i just know her and she uses the child support to buy big thngs, like remodel her house, her car she uses for work,how she wants all of them to get new 4 wheelers before my his turns 18.you see they talk freely in front of me and her mother.her and her husband pay monthly bills. they should they would have to have them even if child was not there but thanks to him they now have a two story brick home .if it was not for child they would be living in stepfaters very small trailer.child support finished paying off the 4500.00 that was still owed on the house.once that was paid off she boguth herself a new car. not for child , childs grandma takes him to doctors,movies, shopping if he needs to go grandma takes him.i buy every get he wears year round.his grndma buys school supplies for all her grandkids.he eats at grandmas because his mother and stepfater work late hours.it is always after 8:00 when they get home.dear i know how offen my child goes to the bathroom and yes now he is 14 he is going more and staying longer.i call so much he ask me to stop calling.i wnat to be in his life(every minute but i can't)due to his mom moving 5 1/2 away.i know what you are thinking and it was not me. she was fooling around. the first wife to call and me child was 2, i tried to talk to her she told me to deal with it or else. she had two other kids that never seen a father both have different last names.i wanted to be with my son so i shut up.i moved into the room with my son.few months later my parents come to visit.i was busy watching al three kids while she was out.the phone rang i told my mother to get it.it was the health dept asking for me ( they said they had to get some news to me). when i got to the phone i was thinking she has got out and got herself pregnent by some other man (i can not take this). well that was not it she had got somethng alright a std.her man friend told her ,she went to get meds for herself.they told her your married so you need to tel your husband he needs to come in. she told them you can tell him or he will find out on his own. no i do not want to take anything away from my son.i just think there has to be away to get a child that makes a and b's in school to finish school.his mother is not going to do it.i think if i stop paying support she wouls send him to me, i just do not know how long it would take her. yes i love my son. i hope he will not follow in my foot steps too,i did play but i wish i had of played with someone else.i have faced it, and i have alway paid. i would love to have him with me , she would not have to pay at all. i would just love to have my son so i could be there for him like my dad and mom was for me.i want him to finish school even if it would mean telling his mother to spend al the money on herself (not on house ,4 wheeler) and make him go to work at wendy's, mc d's.there has to be away to make him see what his life will be like if he is stuck working at a fast food place.he dresses in nothing but the best.i have never bought him a pair of shoe that was under139.00 (that was when he was 5-9 yrs old.for years they are all over 250.00, his jeans are all 80.00 up to 175.00,his watch he wanted was 350.00 he is 14.,the only under wear he wants cost 10.00 for one.i did this to him i will admmit it.i gave his mother the child support and 76% of all unpaid medical then i take him shopping once a month.my son could not take it if everyone stopped buying for him like his grandma and i do. then he would have to ask his mother to buy him something out of the child support. if she said no go back to school, get a job, work the school thing out. he would he is a level headed child. she has just got him talked into droppin out of school.i just do not understand her.in order to get to him i have to break her first..i hope you all know how worried i am about my child not finishing school, if not look at all the long replies.i am just sick about. he is 14 and she has already got he out of school, he is going maybe three days a week.well he going if it is raining.i need help not attacked.i am none of the good dads.

thanks for you reply.. The child wants to drop out because his mother did, his brother did, and his sister did. They all make it sound so cool.His mother said she was okay with it,if he did not finsih school.Her words was why should he finish it would just make the rest of us feel stupid.Everyone tels her she needs to tell the child that he need to finish high school but she said no she was not going to say one word to him about it.That it is up to him she does not care. All the child and her can talk about is taking the child support since it will not have to be used for lunch money, school supplies.She said the child has clothes on top of clothes, her and her husband pay of the monthly bills like electric,phone,water, rent that is the way it should be.What woman is going to live with another man when she has to take her childs support to pay bills that she would have even if she did not have that child? Well I know of a few low life woman that live with man and pay all the bills with child support. Thats why a lot of men marry or live with some woman. I guess I would have to do without if I had to pay so one would be with me. Something else I do not understand. As for FOOD the child eats what everyone else eats so that should be NO BIG DEAL, yes they may want some little debbie cakes or something.Thats what I am talking about the child would still be eating with the parent it lives with. If that child wanted extras then it would have to do something to get them.Go back to school or get them a job at some fast food place. Most of them will give them a job if you tell they want is going on. Not to many people want to see a child drop out.So they are planing on taking the to pay on the remodeling of the home and the other half of $705.00 to to pay payments on three new 4 wheelers so they can go riding while everyone else is in school.This child makes a and B on report card. It is a waste....

thank you for your reply.i think some new rules need to be made for child support. if not some women are going to be handing to kids off to strangers and still keeping the child support.

thanks for the reply..as far has the monthly bills the mother would have with or without the child..as adults i think we all have our place to live and the bills it takes to keep things going.this is just wild to me. that child is not the reason you have a roof over your head and bills to go along with it..it may be a big plus to some people some they can afford to. feeding the child? you mean that child does not eat what you put on the talbe? you have to take the child support to buy the same food just to make for that one child ? so if the father is sending moneyand it is going for all these things. who is saying they are buying clothes for this child. it seems you would be be keeping a roof over your head with all the bills and you would but letting your child stay with you. no i would say the mother would not (have to keep a roof over the childs head ) i would say in most all cases the father would be jumping at the chance to have had that child with him for all it's life.i do not think he would be worried about the letting that child stay under the roof he has over his own head. you would have to have all those things anyway.if your child could look some of these up when they get older what would they think? would they think no you did not have to keep a roof over my head (but i would hope money or no money you would want to) but in most cases you could always send the child to it's father.. it is just way way some of these are written. it sounds like a duty.when there are so many people out there who would love to have a child and never like like it is a responsiblity. parents are responsible for the kids. making sure it eats yes.as far as your home and bills.let me ask are you remarried ? if so you and your husband have a home and bills.plus you have your child.if you are not married where would you be if you did not have that child ? i mean where is it that you would be to not have a roof, and those monthly bills? i am not trying to be a witch about this but i am a single mom myself.if my child came to me next week and said i think i am going to go live with dad.i would have have these bills/roof to keep.i am just glad the judge lets the woman have the kids in the divorce. heck if it come to child with no support or no child i would pick child.like my husband had put in for one of the other comments (he just did not know what to do with this one) he has lost jobs just so he could travel to be at his childs school events.if the court and his mother would allow him to do so, he would pay her the $705.00 a month and keep the child all the time so he would not have to miss anything else in his life.it's just like when child is here for two months but mother still gets child support for those two months.