Most women on the onset will always give the tagline "I know you are a good dude and would take care of your kid. I wouldn't want to be one of those women if we broke up and put you on child support etc.."
Then you break up, and everything changes. I was giving mines money every month after we broke up, my people told me to keep records, but me thinking things were cool, I was being ignorant about it, we almost got back together and then broke up again(check the worst things you have said to a girl thread). 3 months later she filed child support.
She had a lawyer and the whole 9 and everything. I didn't think I needed one, but boy was that a mistake. She lied and claim I hadn't helped her with anything, they hit me with $3000 in back child support, and wanted me to pay $800 a month. This was all in the back room with a mediator. I could accept that or take my chances with the judge, I took my chances with the judge because the mediator was totally bias, amplified by salary at the time with "projected OT" and hit me as hard as she could.
Went in front of judge, at that moment I was steaming, because I was basically being railroaded. Judge was more sensible though. She kept the $3000 back child support because I had no proof I was paying but chopped down the monthly payment into half and required I provide the healthcare coverage.
All in all I would suggest filing on yourself if you and the baby moms aren't together. I was going to file on myself but she seemed cool on the money I was giving her so I didn't think it was necessary. I was ignorant back then I know better now.
I went through that so none of you would have to. Heed the advice brehs.
They can refile every 3 years, I keep thinking mine will because my salary is 3x's what I was making before. But whenever we come across each other I try to look as modest as possible, even borrowing someone elses car to go so she doesn't think I'm ballin when she sees mine. In the meantime she has had another kid and has another dude on CS. Guess it has become a hustle for her.