Blue Meanie,
Thank you. But how would you reasonably define the 'act of becoming a parent'? To me, this is an important question... could it be defined as your impregnation of a female which produces a child and/or could it also be defined as a minor whose sperm took no part in the production of a child but decides to play family anyway, without proper understanding of potential consequences. The latter leads to the question of how a minor, who is not informed of laws and statutes relevent to paternity, can be held accountable.
What binding mechanism is in place that informs minors of responsibilities and relevent statutes when signing a voluntary declaration of paternity?
Here's where your argument falls apart. Whether it was your sperm or not, you engaged in an act, the
potential consequences of which include becoming a parent. Whether you understood those consequences properly or not, you still chose to engage in the act.
Same with signing the AOP at birth. I know there's a portion explaining that you are declaring yourself LEGALLY to be the father of the child and accept the rights and responsibilities that go along with that. Again, whether you properly understood what that meant or not, you chose to engage in the act of signing it.
Now, I tend to agree that 16 year olds have no concept of what it means to have a child and be a parent forever and ever. That doesn't stop them from having sex every day, and reproducing at a frightening rate. The fact that their minors does not negate the consequences of those choice and actions.
You had TWO YEARS during which you could have disputed the affidavit that you signed. Again, you chose not to, and in making that choice/engaging in that act of avoidance, you chose to forever be this child's parent.
Not knowing that the choices you make will result in life altering and long ranging effects doesn't get you off the hook.