Child Support While Pregnant | Child Support at Conception
Child support is the government's way of ensuring that the parents of a child both support the child financially.
Many parents-to-be wonder how early it can be ordered — From conception? From birth?
Can you get child support while pregnant?
No, a court will not issue an order for you to receive child support while pregnant.
However, Utah has a law that requires a father to pay half the mother's pregnancy-related medical costs if she requests.
Generally, a father has no rights to an unborn child because the fetus is not yet considered a legal person. In line with this reasoning, he cannot be required to support the baby until it is a legal person.
Legislators do occasionally try to change this. For example, the Unborn Child Support Act was introduced in the U.S. Congress in July 2022 and January 2024. Some states are trying to have fetuses recognized as people.
Of course, you can always agree with the other parent that they'll give you money or cover pregnancy costs, which you may think of as child support without a court order, though it's not technically child support. Keep track of any payments in case there's a dispute or in case you want to point to them during a custody case.
Can you file for child support while pregnant?
No, you can't submit an application for child support for an unborn child. While you can start the paperwork and seek legal advice now, you can't apply until your baby is born.
After the birth, it's best to apply as soon as possible. This involves filling out an application, providing your financial information and serving papers on the other parent. You'll also need to open a case to determine paternity if your child doesn't have two legal parents by that time.
Keep in mind that if you earn more than the father, or if he has the baby most of the time, you may owe support to him. You can estimate your child support payment before you file.
You can file for divorce while pregnant, and divorce cases that involve children typically address child support. If you wrap up the divorce before the birth (only allowed in certain locations), you'll have to return to court to decide child support and custody later.
Other ways to get financial support while pregnant
If you're struggling to meet costs during pregnancy, you might qualify for government programs like Medicaid (for health care) or Women, Infants, and Children (for food).
Many charities offer help to pregnant women, including Pregnancy Resource Centers and Catholic Charities.
You might also qualify for free or reduced-free legal aid to help you prepare your custody and child support case. Search for a legal aid organization near you.
How you can prepare for co-parenting while pregnant
While you're pregnant, there are steps you can take toward co-parenting, even if applying for child support is not one of them.
First of all, try to draft a parenting plan with the other parent. This means you try to agree on whether you'll share custody or give just one parent custody. If you're going to share custody, your plan can be a detailed document that outlines how you'll make decisions together and maintain consistency between your homes.
You can also choose a custody schedule. Infant custody schedules often give more time to the mother, but they don't have to. You could also plan to move to a different schedule when your child is a little older.
Once your child is born, you'll need to open a custody case to have a judge approve your agreement.
If you can't agree on a parenting plan and schedule, a judge will eventually need to decide. If that seems likely to happen, you can keep a parenting journal now to document relevant events and prove trends.
Now is also the time to start good co-parenting habits, like keeping the father informed about your baby's development.
Keeping track of payments and expenses
Even before you have a child support order, the Custody X Change online app can help you keep track of child-related expenses, as well as payments to or from your co-parent.
Log details of both into your parenting expense tracker. You can upload attachments, add notes and print reports for a judge or the other parent.
It's just one way Custody X Change helps you organize co-parenting.