There are no laws that require the father to pay child support without a court order. It’s not automatic. In many states, credit scores are not affected by failure to pay child support. Fathers aren’t fired from their jobs for impregnating a woman. Fathers are not billed for any medical expenses for the pregnancy or the child. (In at least two states, fathers can be legally required to pay for at least 50 percent of pregnancy related medical costs. Should we assume the mother has to be willing to fight for those payments—via paperwork and dealing with state agencies—from unwilling fathers?)
