Bristol Palin files for child support

AP News | 2010-01-23 00:16:37

<div id="subtitle">Bristol Palin seeks $1,750 a month in child support for baby Tripp</div><div><p>Sarah Palin's oldest daughter, Bristol, is seeking child support from the young man who fathered her 1-year-old son.</p><p>Documents filed Thursday in Superior Court in Palmer show Bristol Palin is seeking $1,750 a month from 19-year-old Levi Johnston, her former fiance. Their son, Tripp, was born in December 2008.</p><p>Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein said Alaska law makes clear that a parent of a child is obligated to provide support.</p><p>"It is unfortunate Bristol has to seek court intervention in this regard," Van Flein said.</p><p>The details regarding child support come at the same time Bristol is seeking full custody of the baby. She filed a petition for sole custody in early November.</p><p>Johnston, at the very least, wants joint custody, said Rex Butler, Johnston's lawyer.</p><p>The motion for child support says Bristol, 19, is providing nearly 100 percent of Tripp's care and that Johnston has paid only $4,400 in more than a year. Palin's oldest daughter also is seeking back child support of $18,350. The amount is based on an estimate of Johnston's income last year.</p><p>Alaska law mandates that at a minimum for one child the noncustodial parent is obligated to pay child support in the amount of 20 percent of that person's adjusted annual income.</p><p>The court filing says Johnston has earned more than $105,000 in 2009 for various media interviews and modeling assignments. It also says he has not provided the court information on his adjusted annual income as requested.</p><p>Butler said on several occasions Johnston wanted to give Bristol money for the baby's care, requesting that she bring Tripp with her, but she was a no-show.</p><p>"He was prepared to meet her at the location she designated," Butler said. "He was hoping to at least get a chance to see his baby."</p><p>Butler said the situation as far as visitation has improved, with Johnston now being allowed a few hours on Saturday to be with Tripp.</p><p>"That is the highlight of the weekend for Levi," Butler said.</p><p>Butler said Bristol also is driving a brand-new $60,000 Cadillac Escalade, which he suspects is a gift from Sarah Palin, who recently finished up a book tour for her blockbuster "Going Rogue." The former Alaska governor was the Republican candidate for vice president when it was revealed that her daughter was pregnant.</p><p>Butler said he hopes Bristol and Levi can work out an agreement with a mediator where they would be free of "influence by outside forces."</p><p>"I have always maintained that if these two folks were left alone they could work out their own details," Butler said.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67554052&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>


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