What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? Georgia
I have received a written order for genetic testing, coupled with a declaration that I have been named the father of an 8-year old child, in Louisiana. The letter was sent from the Louisiana Dept. of Social Services, Family Support.
The problem is that the woman named as the mother is someone I am 100 percent certain I have never met in my life. I have absolutely no doubt that there is zero chance that this child could be mine, for several reasons beyond not ever meeting the mother (including geography, a committed relationship spanning the time of conception, and a history of zero promiscuity). This is either a case of mistaken identity (thousands of men in the US share my name), stolen identity, or a complex financial scam.
I am trying to make sense of this and ascertain my options, and have a few key questions.
1. Does the state of Louisiana have jurisdiction over me, living in Georgia?
2. Is there a statute of limitations on claiming paternity in a suit?
3. If this is mistaken identity, how could that happen? Does the plantiff not have to have an evidentiary basis for the paternity accusation?
4. What is the risk involved in reporting for the DNA test (they have scheduled it in Georgia)? Can these things be unreliable, or the results compromised?
5. Is there any legal risk in contacting Louisiana's Social Services department directly, to try and investigate how this originated (and whatever proof they might be claiming)?
I would really appreciate any feedback or advice. I'm trying to determine if I need to engage an attorney (apparently, it would have to be one in Louisiana, according to those I've spoken to in Georgia).
I have received a written order for genetic testing, coupled with a declaration that I have been named the father of an 8-year old child, in Louisiana. The letter was sent from the Louisiana Dept. of Social Services, Family Support.
The problem is that the woman named as the mother is someone I am 100 percent certain I have never met in my life. I have absolutely no doubt that there is zero chance that this child could be mine, for several reasons beyond not ever meeting the mother (including geography, a committed relationship spanning the time of conception, and a history of zero promiscuity). This is either a case of mistaken identity (thousands of men in the US share my name), stolen identity, or a complex financial scam.
I am trying to make sense of this and ascertain my options, and have a few key questions.
1. Does the state of Louisiana have jurisdiction over me, living in Georgia?
2. Is there a statute of limitations on claiming paternity in a suit?
3. If this is mistaken identity, how could that happen? Does the plantiff not have to have an evidentiary basis for the paternity accusation?
4. What is the risk involved in reporting for the DNA test (they have scheduled it in Georgia)? Can these things be unreliable, or the results compromised?
5. Is there any legal risk in contacting Louisiana's Social Services department directly, to try and investigate how this originated (and whatever proof they might be claiming)?
I would really appreciate any feedback or advice. I'm trying to determine if I need to engage an attorney (apparently, it would have to be one in Louisiana, according to those I've spoken to in Georgia).