This term is oftentimes used to describe fathers who do not support their children financially by not paying child support. We feel this term is not fair to the huge majority of dads who faithfully support their children both emotionally and financially. Further, there are cases where these so called "deadbeat dads" truly want to support their children but are not able to at the present time due to being unemployed, incarcerated, injured or sick. We feel that "non-custodial parent" or "absent parent" is a more appropriate term than deadbeat dad or deadbeat mom. That having been said, dads or moms who willingly choose to not support their children, even though they have the means to, is a deplorable act and these people, male or female, should be pursued and made to pay.

Deadbeat Dad is a pejorative term (primarily U.S.) that refers to men who have fathered a child but fail to pay child support ordered by a family law court or statutory agency such as the Child Support Agency. Deadbeat parents is a gender neutral term referring to parents of either gender assessed as liable to, but not paying child support.