Kind of a strange question...Opinions?

I don't think there's a precedent for this but I was just wondering...

Since abortion is legal in the US and you can also give your baby up for adoption:

If the father doesn't want the mother to have the child, can he refuse to pay child support by claiming that she has the ability to choose not to have the child and thus by choosing to keep it, she is claiming sole responsibility?

I've just been wondering this for a few days...I'm not pregnant or anything so plz no comments on "WTF is wrong with your bf" or antyhing like that.

I just wonder. If a woman chooses to have the baby, shouldn't she be responsible for it? There are ways for her to give it up, so if the father doesn't want it then I don't think that he should have to be responsible for child support payments. It's your own fault you didn't "take care of it" (by abortion or adoption). I know some people will give me crap for thinking that, but what is your opinion?

*edit*

I understand that "it takes two" but if you were using birth control (whether it be condoms--male or female--"the pill" or some other similar female contraceptive, or a combination of both) then obviously the child would be a mistake.

What I'm saying is that since * I * have a right to choose what to do, why am I able to force another person to pay to support the child? If I can abort a baby without the father's consent, then why doesn't he have the right to say "This child was an accident, I don't want it--if you keep it it is your responsibility"?

Funny thing you ask that; I actually have a friend who is dealing with this situation. She got knocked up by my best friend, but he doesn't want the kid or any children ever. Besides the birth control speech; which they were using the pill, or so they thought, he told her that he does not want children and she respects that fact. She on the other hand wants to have the child and has decided to do so without his participation; by the way the baby's name is going to be Mia. So in-order to do right by him and also be solely responsible for her child she is not going to place his name on the birth certificate so he will have no legal claim to her and no legal responsibility for the child. Only way to dispute this is through a paternity test, and you would have to get his consent for that or a court order; probably not gonna happen.

My opinion on this is that many people use pregnancy as a way to place leverage on people. It's wrong to do this, and those people should be forced to abort & then be steralized

If the woman has the baby, the father legally has to pay child support.

I have always wondered that as well...b/c even if they guy wants it, tech. its the womans body and she can have an abortion....i dont know how that works...sad really!

I think the law is (and I'm no expert) that the mom gets to decide what to do - the dad is stuck with the bill. Basic rule: you play, you pay.

I see where you are coming from. There are a lot of irresponsible women and also a lot of women that try to "trap" men with a child. However, with that said.. it is assumed that the woman will care for the child and thus, the father should provide financial assistance.

If the guy chose to have unprotected sex, this was the risk he took.

Way too much of a mind **** for me.

the answer to your question is legally, no. logically? mmmm, i'd say that the problem is that the point of choice for the man was at the point he chose to ... er, have his cake.

for the record, that is also the reason I don't buy the "woman's right to choose" argument. She made her choice already.

good point...of course all the women on here wont agree because they don't have a problem with a woman making the decision to have a baby FOR the man as well as her herself.

I think that the guy should be held responsible, because some women are against abortion and our adoption agencies and social services aren't the best and I wouldn't want to give up my child for them to be subjected to that. However, you know that if the father doesn't sign the birth certificate he doesn't have to pay child support.

The father has to pay child support if she has the baby. He made her pregnant and has to share in the responsibility. He had the option to use a condom too. It doesnt matter about my opinion. Legally he has to pay child support if she has his child

It takes two to make it, so yes, he has to take responsibilty, by law and morally.

YES THE FATHER CAN GO TO COURT AND GET OUT OF CHILD SUPPORT IF THEY PROVE THE GIRL SAID SHE WAS ON BIRTH CONTROL BUT I THINK IF THEY WERE ANY KIND OF MAN AT ALL THEY WOULD PAY FOR THEIR CHILD THEY HAVE MADE THE CHILD DID NOT ASK TO BE BORN IT TOOK 2 TO PLAY

It takes two people to make a baby, two people to raise and support it. I think the man should be responsible no matter what the woman decides, he should know this is a possibility each time he has sex.

I myself went through this, in my case we were dating when he found out I was pregnant he didn't want anything to do with me, we are both adults with jobs etc, he just decided he didn't want the responsibility, so why should he be let off the hook when he is the one that created this child? Needless to say I have my beautiful son who is now 6 and his father is a part of his life, because I kept after him, and he thanks me for it now, as he couldn't imagine life without him.

That's just my experience. I'm sure other people feel differently.

I see what you're saying. I think most men shouldn't have the responsibility of paying for their precious child, I mean, when you do that, you're letting that man stay in your life, and not all men are great.

But we all know how society perceives women: weak, defenseless, child bearers that stay at home. Whereas men are thought to be the "bread-winners". My my...give me a friggin' break.

Interesting view, yeah people are going to give you Hades for it, but oh well. You know ur view will probably never become a law, because so many men would be getting women pregnant, knowing that they don't have to pay CS.....so much chaos would occur...

When 2 people have intercourse, they are both responsible for the outcome.
Even though he may not want the child, he is and should still be responsible for the child because pregnancy is almost always a possibility.

If you play you pay.

unfortunately....

WATCH THE MOVIE BELLA... IT IS A GREAT PRO-LIFE + ADOPTION MOVIE

IT HAS WON SEVERAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE

There is plenty of precedent regarding your question.

No, a male cannot refuse to pay child support by claiming that he didn't want the child.

The only two ways for him to avoid child support are 1) avoid getting a female pregnant in the first place 2) have his parental rights terminated by court order.

Do I agree that this is fair? Yes.