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I was married to a USA citizen, GI stationed in Panama and later we moved to the US. After frequent abuse and beatings, and all that, we got separated and I moved back to Panama. Eight months after I came back to Panama, we started talking again and decided to give it another shot, this time in my turf, that is Panama.

We conceived a son, he is now 14, my only son (I have 2 more girls), born in 1993. My now ex, then hubby, had to go back to the US, since he was not in the military and with no remarkable skills that he could use to find work in Panama, which he didn't, besides he never managed to learn the language. Upon returning to the US, while I was still pregnant (6 months), he was suppose to find a job, save money and bring us back to the US after the babe was born. Needless to say, it never happened. I haven't seen him or heard from him since March 1994, when, after a very angry conversation, we decided to go our separate ways, for good. He never knew his son. Have never sent him a penny for his support, ever.

Now. Since that time I have spent endless times at the US Embassy trying to seek assistance for this. They have a set of requirements that I cannot comply with, for example: provide the school transcripts of the US to prove that he was living in the US at a certain time... Duh! How am I supposed to get those?

Ok. So. Since there are no treaties signed between the Governments of Panama and the USA that force Americans to comply with their fatherly duty, that road is closed to me.

I contrived to find his mother, but she refuses to provide me with his address and contact info. She has my email, cel phone and other info. I wouldn't give him my homephone, no way. She did mention that he is an Architect, so I would like to know if there is like National Association where Architects will need to be registered?

I will need to find an attorney based in the US that would be willing to work with me on this, but before I sign anything, I need to know my chances for success, see if anything could come out of this. I'll need a honest lawyer, if there is such thing. My ex's family still live in Slidell, La.

Mind, I am not doing this for me. Lately (for the last 2-3 years) my son has been very inquisitive about his father. I owe him this much, the chance to know his roots. The money wouldn't be bad, but is not the most important issue here. But after his mother's refusal to let me speak with him directly, I was so angry that I want to take him to the cleaners, for refusing his son his right. Lucky for my boy, he has a om worth two full time parents...

Any thoughts? Any advice? Is there such a thing as a National Register for Architects? I know is a long shot, but hey... And I do have his SSN.

Thank you guys...

Was the boy born in Panama or the USA?

Have you spoken with an attorney in Panama?

I would say contact Louisiana division of child support, you should be able to just google it, give them his full name and ssn. If he is not in that state, they should be able to find him for you.
Hope that helps!

That's what I was going to suggest, speak with an attorney.

It shouldnt matter where he was born, he is a US citizen, because his father was a soldier.
If you can find an attorney that is great but definitely look into the Louisiana division of child support

One other question. Was you ex in the military at the time of the birth and/or the conception of him?

My son was born in Panama.

I've talked to an attorney in Panama, in fact, severalof them. There is no ltreaty between Panama and the U (Phillipinnes have such a treaty) so, it has tobe done privately.

I wrote a letter to the Lousiana DEpt. of Human Services, they never responded. I called them. Nothing. No interest for this American boy in Panama.

That's why I am asking, I have pretty much done everything, but I have hopes, that I can find another, maybe I have overlooked something

That is what I am not sure of by her orignial explanation. I can't tell if he was "in" the military at the time of birth and/or conception.

This is very important from a legal view.

I agree that he is morally obligated to assist with the welfare of the child. But, if the ex was not in the US military at the time of birth and/or conception and just a civilian, she may not have a "legal" case.

In addition, the boy is now 14, there maybe a statute of limitations that applies here, but I just don't know. More facts are needed.

It really sucks and her ex appears to be a real assh*le, but there are two ways to look at this situation, from a moral view and a legal view!

i dont belive you will get any, as the states will not pursue any case that means money going abroad

on the other side,, unless you have the permanet resinece i dont belive inmigration will let you come here to file the claim

for what you wrote, you have not received any penny since the child was born and now he is 14, the amount of money you can calim is a lot even for an architect
i will sugest you to contact a lwayer, he wil paid a percentage of what it is awarded (if you apy a lower in advance, as they now you cannot claim against him he will do noting) and makie your ex-life as misserable as the layer can do

the american goverment does not consider his son to be american citizen

a good look at the inmigration lwas will help undertanding this

Look up "dead beat dads" websites....

If anyone knows what to do they will.

There has to be some sort of recourse for you, because not paying is a serious offense these days. They will arrest and jail a father for non payment.

No, he wasn't. He got out of the Military when we moved to the US. I understand he is an architect now.

from the americans your son is not american
legally is not american and they will fight whatever it takes to keep him non-american

However, if her ex was in the military at the time of birth/conception, this could possibly play a big role in her ability to seek compensation.

If the ex was in the military at this time, my suggestion would be to contact the branch of the military he was a part of and ask if he is legally obligated in any way.

i dont like to argue on what it is writen in the taws

they are for every one to read

whether in the military or not, he is not consider to be american, and the inmigration will do whatever it takes to keep both out of the states

Thanks for clearing that up. Since he was not in the military at the time of conception and birth, that makes him clearly a US citizen only.

Therefore, the boy is not a US citizen and therefore this situation does not fall under the US legal system. Thata is just the way it is. It sucks, but just the way it is.

Understand, I still think he is scum, but the fact of the matter is that he is only morally obligated then, not legally.

I really don't see how you will be able to to seek compensation.

Sorry, just trying to help.

I know it sucks,big time, and my son probably won't get anything, but I am willing to give it another try at least. It is very nerve wrecking and time consumming.

He wasn't in active military duty when our son was conceived. However, we were legally married and residing together, as can be proved by the Status of Immigration report from Panama. As far as I know, I do have a case, just not an easy one.

I don't think there the status of limitations applies until he is of legal age.

Right now, he is not an American citizen because he was born abroad, so he is Panamanian by birth. Since his father wasn't here to register his birth with the Embassy upon the baby's birth, he'll have to do it now. That's what I was told at the Embassy. Some documents needs to be sent for his signature, but I don't have an address to send them to.

I know that after so many years, DNA tests will be required, and if I know him, I am pretty damn sure he will demand them. I have no problem with that. In fact I have actually found out the labs that the US Embassy uses... I have done my homework so far
but his mother is a wall, and she is not letting me pass. Need an attorney for that.

As for the visa to go to the US, I am not a resident anymore, but I do have a legal SSN, and I will need to reapply for a resident's visa, which I don't want. I have a tourist visa that allows me entrance to the US any time I want. I can go for 2 weeks when the time is right, I just don't want to spend time and moneygoing there for 2 weeks for legal shopping, I can do that from here, I think.

By my understanding of the law in this type of case, if a soldier (property of the US government) impregnates a foreign national, the US/father is responsible for the welfare of the child. I could be wrong here, but that is just my understanding.

However, she clearly stated that he was not a US soldier at the time of conception or birth and therefore there are no legal avenues for her that I am aware of.

A US citizen can spread his seed all over the world and get 100 woman pregnant, but he chooses to come back to the US and not pay a dime in child support, that is his choice. Be it a bad choice and morally wrong choice, that is just the facts the way I understand the laws.

You need to contact a local atterney near you . Give them all of his information such as full name dat of birth where he was orignally from, years he were stationed there. What his job department and duties were. List anything and everything about him or his history that you can think of. Your attorney should know who to trace and contact him or his attorney to begin the process of finding him and filing for unpaid child support and allomony also list all the bills that you two had together and all that has come up since the children were born. This may take some time but he will eventually have to pay back child support with a % of interest attached to it.

I understand. He was not in the military, but I do think he was Reserve National Guard. That was one of the conditions for him to get out early of his military contract.

I understand that if he decides not to pay that's his choice. However, I was a resident of the US for many years, with the same duties and obligations of any American Citizen. It is also my choice and my son's right to pursue this, whatever it takes. My son has rights here in Panama and in the US, because his father IS an American citizen, even though my son is a Panamanian citizen by birth. I have spoken extensively to the US Embassy and they have said that it has been done, not a problem there, we just need to get dad to do what he needs to do, and in this case it has to be done through an attorney. I understand the the US government is not going to pursue this for me, I have to do it with my own resources.

I just needed to see if there was something else that I could have missed, but I don't think I have.