Unborn Child Support Act

This bill would let states collect child support during pregnancy. If the pregnant parent asks, a court could order the biological father to start paying for costs as early as the month a doctor says the baby was conceived. Payments can be ordered later and applied to past months, even if the father is legally named after the birth. A judge would set the amount after talking with the mother and considering what is best for her and the baby. No test or step to prove paternity can be done without the mother’s consent, and nothing that could harm the unborn child can be required. States would be required to run this through their child support agencies, and they could not use waiver programs to avoid these rules. The bill defines an unborn child as a human being at any stage of development in the womb.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Pregnant parents and biological fathers; state child support programs.
• What changes: Child support can cover the pregnancy period, start as early as conception month, be ordered retroactively, and must respect the mother’s consent and safety for any paternity steps.
• When: The rules would start 2 years after the bill becomes law.

Small summary table:

• Who: Pregnant parent; biological father; state child support agency.
• What: Support for pregnancy months; court sets amount; retroactive payments allowed; consent and safety limits on paternity steps.
• When: Takes effect 2 years after enactment.