[heartwood]

While I am adamantly against abortion unless to save the actual life of the mother, fairness dictates a man should be able to perform a legal abortion should the woman decide to deliver, which would release him from financial liability and prohibit his involvement.
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er, wouldn’t the same thing be accomplished by a paternity waiver, a legal document?

[Sgt_Schultze]

That would probably suffice in the instance the mother were to consent. But what about the mothers who choose to deliver to collect a paycheck?

[mosquitobite]

I've never heard of a paternity waiver, but I have heard of legal cases where two parties had a contract that said the man wasn't responsible for child support, and wasn't involved in the child's life. Later on the woman has come back around asking for child support and the courts award it. They use the justification that support is the child's and that the parents are not allowed to contract its non-existence, therefore it is null.

There's a recent legal case where a lesbian couple used donor sperm (a friend of the couple) and they told him he was free and clear. Once the child was 18 they sued for back child support (once it was "safe" that they couldn't lose custody!)

I believe there is a place for alimony, but that it should not be never ending and it should be matched with requirements on the part of the spouse receiving. (ie, a portion of the funds must be used for education so that one can support themselves!)