Welfare laws: my child's father abandoned us when i was pregnant. should i be forced to...?:
Looks like you're afraid of him having rights to raise this child should you die. If you don't want him to have rights to is child, you'll need to get him to sign a legal document signing his rights away.
Of course if he does sign his rights away he won't be liable for child support.
Check with your local social services office & ask them... "If he signs away his rights to this child will /can the back child support still be collected?"...
Yes, do bring him forth & establish paternity.