What is the legal age that the government can enforce child support? Can 16 and 17 year old Dads be forced to pay child support if they work at McDonald's? Would that be like making a 'child' pay 'child' support.

According to what I found, if the parent is under the age of majority, his or her parents (the grandparents of the child in question) must pay. Here is some information.

quote:

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...a grandparent does not have a duty to support a grandchild, except when the grandparent is standing in loco parentis to the grandchild. E.g., Ex Parte Pisxcomb, 660 So. 2d 986 (Ala. 1994); Franklin v. Franklin, 75 Ariz. 151, 253 P.2d 337 (Ariz. 1953); Austin v. Austin, 22 N.W.2d 60 (Neb. 1946). See also Bennett v. Bennett, 390 S.E.2d 276 (1990) (grandparents stood in loco parentis to grandchild while child was in their custody, and could therefore take advantage of family immunity doctrine in tort action). When a grandparent does stand in loco parentis to the grandchild, the grandparent's child support liability is still secondary only. The natural parent retains the primary duty to support the grandchild.

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The grandparent would be standing in loco parentis for a minor child.

However, I should add that it is very rare for a parent, regardless of age, to be considered a child. Generally by virtue of being a parent, they are considered an adult, even if they are a still a teenager. Usually what I have seen happen (and I am sad to say that I have seen enough teenage pregnancies to have a "usually"), the biological father is required to get a job and pay support, and his parents are required to add to his payment in support of the child, while the custodial parent (usually the mother) is told she must work in order to retain custody, and her parents are required to either let her live with them or help her support herself and the child independently.

In one instance, the mother was 15 and the father 17. He had to work part time and give her half of his pay, and his parents had to send money also. Her mother had kicked her out, but because of the daughter's age she could not get an apartment, so the father's parents were allowed to let her live with them in lieu of paying child support (father still had to pay, just to ensure that they spent the money on the baby and not other stuff). Then her mother had to pay child support to his parents for the support of her daughter.

Child support is based on the father's earning ability. They are not "off the hook" because of their age. A child making a child is a financial commitment that lasts a lifetime. And yes, they can garnish McDonald's checks! If a child is under the age to work then the court could hold the parents of the teen responsible. The courts will help the teen get a GED and get job training. They will more than likely require it.

Thanks Clare and MTT, and thanks for the link. In my opinion it's a bunch of bull to even think about a grandparent being required to pay support. I'm glad the grandparents in the link fought it. It's amazing at the things that a state would enforce if people are too weak to fight.