5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 484 | Conn. App. Ct. | 1969
After a nonjury trial, the court found the defendant guilty as charged and adjudged him the father of the child of the plaintiff, born to her on February 7, 1968. The court made an order directing the defendant to pay the sum of $1273.14, being the total amount of the lying-in expenses and support and maintenance of the child to the date of the judgment, and an attorney’s fee of $250; and he was also ordered to pay the sum of $10 a week for “current support . , , all payments to be made through [the] Family Relations Division of the Circuit Court at Bridgeport.”
There is no error.
In this opinion Deabington and DiCenzo, Js., concurred.
Ordinarily, “[u]pon a finding of guilty [in paternity proceedings], the amount and duration of the order for the support of tlhe child is a matter within the sound discretion of the court. Unless that discretion is abused, the conclusion of the court will not be disturbed.” Turner v. Richardson, 147 Conn. 423, 426. Here, however, the judgment discloses that no provision was made for the duration of the order, although § 52-442 of the General Statutes specifically provides that “[i]f the defendant is found guilty, the court shall order him to stand charged with the support and maintenance of such child . . . until the child attains the age of eighteen years”. See 10 Am. Jur. 2d 896 n.2, Bastards, § 68. The statutory requirement providing for duration of the order was not followed in this case. See Ferguson v. Smazer, 151 Conn. 226, 227 n.1; Practice Book, Form 785. “While ordinarily questions not raised at the trial will not be