Father Didn't Know About Child Support Order Case In Texas

In Moragas and Kawazoe v. Davila, the mother knew of a child support order, but did not communicate its existence to the father for thirteen years. See Moragas, 972 S.W.2d at 91. In Kawazoe, the court held that the mother was estopped from collecting child support arrearages because she had led him to believe that his parental rights were terminated. See Kawazoe v. Davila, 849 S.W.2d 906, 909 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1993, no pet.). The Moragas court explained that the "parent of a child has the duty to support the child and is liable to a person who provides necessaries to the child.... the natural father has the legal duty to support his minor children whether ordered to do so by the court or not." Id.