nonbiological parent

[Todd Woodstock]

I am trying to understand the court system concerning the best interest of the child. I married a woman in 1987, and a child was conceived in 1989 while I was still married to her. I found out that she had an affair a year later. I was in the service at the time. After the child was born I had a blood test done to prove paternity. The doctor stated the child could be mine, there wasn't a positive way to determine that the child was mine unless I paid 5,000 dollars for a DNA if they were even available then. So I went under the assumption of my wife and the doctor's testimony that the child was mine. I stayed married to this woman for twelve years. I've been divorced for two and recently had a DNA done and found her not to be mine. My ex still will admit the child is mine, but she doesn't know about the DNA. I am no longer interested in raising this child and know she will be neglected by me due to the fact that my ex and I had another child during the marriage and I know that one is mine. I will favor my biological child over my stepchild. Is this fair to the child? What are my options? How can my ex get away with fraud? I am in Michigan and my ex, stepdaughter, and biological daughter live in Florida.

 

[Grandma B]

Generally, a child born during a marriage is presumed to be the child of the married partners. If paternity isn't questioned within the first 2 years of a child's life, it's too late. There may be a loophole in all this for you since you did make an attempt to establish paternity earlier.

You must have been a great father. If you've been divorced for 2 years, you evidently raised this little girl as your own for around 10 years. Now that you have learned she isn't your biological child, you can throw her away with no feeling?

I can understand your feeling anger, and even having feelings of animosity toward the mother, but your attitude toward this innocent child makes me sad.

 

[scumcoast]

You would have to file in the court were you were divorceed and I have to tell you your chances are slim to none after this long. If you questioned the paternity years ago that is when you should have taken action. This is something that could hurt the child forever. And the courts will more than likely determine that.

 

[Kelly143]

Try to look at it from your daughter's point of view. And yes, she IS your daughter, biological or not. You are the only daddy she has ever known. How can you look in her eyes and remember all the times you spent with her and all the love you have shared, and want to turn your back on her? She loves you, don't just throw her away.