Divorce Paternity

From TV talk shows to divorce proceedings, paternity testing has become a hot topic. With the ease and availability of DNA tests, it is easier now than ever to determine if the father is the biological father of his child. If you are going through a divorce, consider the expense of future child support. It may be worth taking a paternity test before you bear the burden of support until your child turns 18.

In most cases, there is an unmistakable bond between father and child. However, during a divorce proceeding, even the most loving father may question if his children are really his. For some, this thought may occur as they realize how their finances will be affected by child support. By questioning their paternity, they are attempting to lessen the financial burden of their children. In other cases, the husband may question his paternity in an attempt to get back at his or her wife.

According to “strict liability,” a man may be held accountable for child support even if he did not intend on conceiving a child with his wife. An example of this is a husband and wife who decided to wait until he finished school before having a child. The wife decides to stop taking her birth control pills without telling her husband. Now she is pregnant, and the couple is divorcing. Even though the husband did not know about the deceit and wanted to wait to have children, he is still responsible for paying child support until the child is grown.

If you are going through a divorce, it may be in your best interest to get a paternity test. The test itself is easy—the test administrator simply swabs the inside of your cheek and the child’s cheek with a Q-tip and sends it off to be analyzed. This test may be administered at a hospital or a medical testing center. The results of the DNA test come back within a few days, and are remarkably accurate.

Are you interested in learning more about divorce paternity? If so, it is important to speak with an experienced, qualified divorce lawyer in your area. Your lawyer will ensure that your rights are upheld and that you are treated fairly during the divorce proceedings.