Child support for father?

BingoBirger

Hi there, i am new in ireland, only been here a few years now.

Never the less my boy is now 10 months old, and the mother and I want a bit more space, from each other.

Now the question is when it comes to my son, how do i put myself in the best situration when it comes to wanting to see my son, and have a say in things going on.

I am allready a legal guardian, and she has offered to give me full rights, but can i afford it? i know she is getting alot of money of me and the goverment here in Ireland, but is that just ecause she is Irish and he is too?

If i take full custody over him, do i get crash allowance? does she now have to pay me child support ?

what happens if we get joint costody, do i still pay her if we have our son 50/50 of the time?

Very confusing all of this and the goverment webpages are very hard to understand, so i hope someone has a bit more insight.

Nevyn

Joint custody is rare in this country and even when it is awarded the child will still have a primary home and the parent who has the child in thier primary home is the one who gets lone parent payments, both parents can apply for single parent tax credits.

Where one parent has primary custody the other is meant to pay towards the maintance of the child.

There will always be expenses which parents have to share, the likes of school books and medical bills when it comes to a child.

BingoBirger

Okay, so what does my guardianship entitle me to when it comes to my son, do i have any rights with that or does it just mean i get him if my eks girlfriend dies?

Nevyn

Yes as well as:

Guardianship rights entitle a parent to make important decisions regarding that child's upbringing, for example, deciding on the child's religion, education, medical treatment and where he/she lives.

Custody and access are separate issues.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/birth-family-relationships/separation-and-divorce/separation_and_divorce_children

Custody

Custody in Ireland refers to the day-to-day care, residency and upbringing of children who are regarded as dependant children. Dependant children in custody matters are children who are under the age of eighteen. In cases of judicial separation or divorce, one parent is usually granted custody. The children reside permanently with the parent who has custody and the other parent is granted access to the children at agreed times, which can include overnight access. It is possible for parents to continue to have joint custody of their children after separation/divorce and for the children to spend an equal amount of time with each parent if the parents can agree and arrange this.
Access

Access refers to the right of the parent in Ireland with whom the child does not reside to spend time with the child. It can include the right to have the child stay overnight either occasionally, on alternate weekends or during school holidays and the right for parent and child to go on holidays together.

The parents may agree informally between themselves the arrangements for custody and access to the child.

In the event that agreement cannot be reached, either parent may make an application to the court to decide which parent will have custody of the child and what access the non-custodial parent will have. The application can be made to the District Court or can be made in an application for Judicial Separation or Divorce in the Circuit Court.

In any application for custody or access, it is the welfare of the child that is the most important factor that a court will consider. It is a child's right to see both parents and access by the non-custodial parent will only be denied if the court believes that it is not in the best interest of the child. The court can set out the time, place and duration of access visits and can order supervised access where another adult is present during visits if it considers it appropriate.

If you are separating from the mother of your child and have these and other issues to sort out I suggest you try to do so via mediation.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/birth-family-relationships/separation-and-divorce/mediated_agreements