Child custody can be one of the most contentious elements of a divorce. In most cases, it is beneficial for both parents to be involved in a child’s life, but often single parents are at odds about their parenting arrangements. This can be particularly difficult if paternity has not been adequately established. At Kulinsky & Associates Ltd, we understand that paternity fraud can make things especially difficult for you or other Illinois residents who may have experienced it.
According to the Huffington Post, paternity fraud occurs if the mother deliberately omits or falsifies information as to the identity of the child’s father. For example, your spouse might have had an affair, and the child you thought was yours was fathered by another man. Or, an ex from many years ago might have named you as the father of her child, even if you had never known about the pregnancy.
A common result of paternity fraud is that you might be ordered to pay child support regardless of establishing paternity. If a DNA test proved you are not the father of the child after a child support order is in place, you may still have difficulty removing the obligation. It is believed that about 30 percent of those paying child support are not biologically related to the children. Understandably, being required to pay child support for a child you did not father and may have never met can create a financial and emotional hardship.
On the other hand, you might believe you are the father of a child and want to be in the child’s life. The first step to seeking visitation or custody rights would likely be a paternity test. You may learn more about parental rights pertaining to fathers by visiting our paternity page.
