ImOkHowAreYou
23 Feb 2024
Law / A Complicated Child Support Question (Polish citizen / UK) [24]
I have a question, and I don't know where to begin to seek the answer.
I am a 19 year old Polish citizen, who has lived in the UK, since I was 7 years old. My birth father still lives in Poland. He and my mother were never married. My mother is a Polish citizen who came to the UK when I was 5 and married another Polish citizen. My stepfather never adopted me. They had two children together once married. When I was growing up, my mother refused to petition my birth father for a Child Maintenance Agreement, as she said that she didn't want him involved in my life. There were times where I had to go without things, but I trusted her judgment at the time.
I am now in year two at Uni in Wales and receive little help from my mother and stepfather, as I have two young kids that they support and they are experiencing financial issues themselves. There was never anything put aside for my university education.
In January, I got a small job through the university, part time, a lot of work (food service) and not enough to pay my financial obligations without cutting corners like no public transport and I am receiving help from a local food bank. I've always been a very good student and the job has forced me to cut back on studying, which really stresses me out. I'm working on a biology degree and intend on an advanced degree, but the cost makes me feel helpless. Is there anything that would obligate my birth father in Poland to pay any amount to compensate for never paying any support? Would I do that through Polish courts as he lives there and I am a citizen? It seems like from what I have read that would be my best chance.
My mother still does not want to be involved so this is something I have to initiate myself, but I believe she would cooperate with any necessary information once the process was started. She is a very proud woman and does not want him or his family to think they cannot provide enough, but I don't care about that. The truth is they cannot.
I would really appreciate any information you could give me. Thank you for your time.
I have a question, and I don't know where to begin to seek the answer.
I am a 19 year old Polish citizen, who has lived in the UK, since I was 7 years old. My birth father still lives in Poland. He and my mother were never married. My mother is a Polish citizen who came to the UK when I was 5 and married another Polish citizen. My stepfather never adopted me. They had two children together once married. When I was growing up, my mother refused to petition my birth father for a Child Maintenance Agreement, as she said that she didn't want him involved in my life. There were times where I had to go without things, but I trusted her judgment at the time.
I am now in year two at Uni in Wales and receive little help from my mother and stepfather, as I have two young kids that they support and they are experiencing financial issues themselves. There was never anything put aside for my university education.
In January, I got a small job through the university, part time, a lot of work (food service) and not enough to pay my financial obligations without cutting corners like no public transport and I am receiving help from a local food bank. I've always been a very good student and the job has forced me to cut back on studying, which really stresses me out. I'm working on a biology degree and intend on an advanced degree, but the cost makes me feel helpless. Is there anything that would obligate my birth father in Poland to pay any amount to compensate for never paying any support? Would I do that through Polish courts as he lives there and I am a citizen? It seems like from what I have read that would be my best chance.
My mother still does not want to be involved so this is something I have to initiate myself, but I believe she would cooperate with any necessary information once the process was started. She is a very proud woman and does not want him or his family to think they cannot provide enough, but I don't care about that. The truth is they cannot.
I would really appreciate any information you could give me. Thank you for your time.