Am I Responsible for an Unborn Baby and the Mother’s Medical Bills?

by | Jan 23, 2017 | Ask the Lawyer | 0 comments

Question asked on Jan 17th, 2017

Q: My girl friend is 6 weeks pregnant, and now the relationship is not working out because she got pregnant without my knowledge and interest. my plan was to have a baby after we get married. Now she is saying whenever she visits a dr I have to share the bill. Am I responsible for that by law?

A: You may want to review the statutes and other materials posted here.  Short version, there is a statute permitting a court to hold a father liable for the costs of “pregnancy and confinement,” although in most cases where the parties have similar earnings most expenses tend to be split.  It might be a good idea for you to confer with a family law specialist about all matters relating to potential child custody, visitation, and support.  Much of the background can be reviewed on our web site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be sued for child support and medical bills during pregnancy in Nevada?
Yes, potentially. Nevada’s paternity statute allows a court to hold a father liable for the reasonable costs of the mother’s pregnancy and confinement, meaning prenatal care and the birth itself, once paternity is established (NRS 126). In practice, where the parents have similar earnings, most of those expenses tend to be split between them rather than placed entirely on the father. Ongoing child support is a separate obligation that begins once the child is born.
Am I responsible for my pregnant girlfriend's doctor bills if we are not married?
You can be. Marriage is not required; what matters is whether you are the legal father, which a Nevada court determines in a paternity action. Once paternity is established, the court can allocate the costs of pregnancy and confinement between the parents, and the fact that the pregnancy was unplanned or that the relationship has ended does not change the analysis (NRS 126). How the bills are actually divided usually tracks the parents’ relative incomes.
What should an unmarried father do when he learns his ex is pregnant?
Confer with a Nevada family law specialist early about the full picture: paternity, custody, visitation and support, not just the medical bills. The pregnancy and confinement costs are usually the smallest part of what will follow, and decisions made now about acknowledging or contesting paternity shape the custody and support orders that come later in the Eighth Judicial District Court Family Division. Willick Law Group can review your situation in a consultation.
Marshal S. Willick
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