It has to be decided by court of law.
The absentee parent should pay
In this situation the mother is LESS likely to achieve full custody but either joint custody or Local rule 22 will be awarded to the mother which includes : every other weekend, every Wednesday from 3-8pm, every other holiday, mother's day, and child's every other birthday.
You need a very good lawyer. The courts are going to ask where you were for 8 years, and if the that contest the shared custody, you are at a better chance in winning the lotto.
The court will take both father and mothers income and base child support off of that. If you are agreeing to shared parenting then neither one of the parents may have to pay at all. It just depends on who wants what and how things go in court.
Will the courts look at that way even if she is the mother?
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