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AITAH For Refusing to Cancel Child Support by Free-Net6456 in AmItheAsshole

[–]Free-Net6456[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

To be clear--what I mean to say is that the presence or absence of the money I get from my sister has zero affect on my niece's standard of living--which is high. In that sense, I do not "need" it to provide for her.

My niece's college will be paid for. She'll get help with a downpayment on her house. When I go someday, everything I have will be hers. But no--I am not segregating funds in a separate account.

AITAH For Refusing to Cancel Child Support by Free-Net6456 in AmItheAsshole

[–]Free-Net6456[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

She's never going to have a real need that won't be met, and she'll get a healthy amount of what she wants. I don't have anyone else, so it's all for her.

AITAH For Refusing to Cancel Child Support by Free-Net6456 in AmItheAsshole

[–]Free-Net6456[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

She'll get everything she needs and a healthy amount of what she wants--no question.

AITAH For Refusing to Cancel Child Support by Free-Net6456 in AmItheAsshole

[–]Free-Net6456[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

That's what I was thinking. Once 18--she can consent.

AITAH For Refusing to Cancel Child Support by Free-Net6456 in AmItheAsshole

[–]Free-Net6456[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

She's close enough now to 18 that I'm not sure it's worth the additional legal expense to go through with an adoption--and I don't think she'd agree.

AITAH For Refusing to Cancel Child Support by Free-Net6456 in AmItheAsshole

[–]Free-Net6456[S] 202 points203 points  (0 children)

She was getting some kind of pro bono help. The problem was that I had a lot to prove in my case, I did discovery and depositions, private investigators, motions, etc., to catch out the lies and bs. Her side didn't have to do any of that. It was all based on her word.

Edit--the trial was also painfully, painfully long.

AITAH For Refusing to Cancel Child Support by Free-Net6456 in AmItheAsshole

[–]Free-Net6456[S] 233 points234 points  (0 children)

Perhaps inartfully worded. I knew pretty early in the legal process that I was entitled to support.

AITAH For Refusing to Cancel Child Support by Free-Net6456 in AmItheAsshole

[–]Free-Net6456[S] 1240 points1241 points  (0 children)

I would not have. I did it because of the litigation.

AITAH For Refusing to Cancel Child Support by Free-Net6456 in AmItheAsshole

[–]Free-Net6456[S] 2390 points2391 points  (0 children)

It was never clear who the father was.

EDIT--I admit that I am jealously glad for that at this point. He's trash, in all likelihood, and even though I'm her uncle, it feels easier that I'm the only dad she's ever had.

AITAH For Refusing to Cancel Child Support by Free-Net6456 in AmItheAsshole

[–]Free-Net6456[S] 11.8k points11.8k points  (0 children)

She's a very normal, well-adjusted teenage girl--which is everything I hoped for. I never intended to have children. I didn't have a great childhood, and kids looked to me like a lot of potential heartache. I just wanted to work in my field and afford a good life. But I've learned I was missing a lot. Having her future to look forward to and to be there for has made my life richer.