Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts
paternal rights?
I had a baby & thought that my current boyfriend was the father but now I am sure that he is not. I have been in contact with who I am pretty sure is the biological father. My boyfriend signed the birth cert. at the hospital & my son has his last name. What now? The other guy is on my back about letting him know if he is the father or not? What rights do either of them have with my son?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: paternal rights?
Let them know the truth, that you do not know which of them is the father.
Your child will have a right to know.
The men, too, have a right to know.
Get DNA tests. The man who is not the biodad should not bear the financial responsibility of the other man's child.
If you live with or marry the nonbio dad, at least the biodad can contribute.
If you break up with or divorce -- down the road -- the nonbio dad, it should be his choice whether to continue the relationship with the child. In any case, the child, who by then will know who is his real dad, will not feel abandoned or rejected . . . that is, if, at least, the other problems are handled properly.
Right now the laws are not clear against paternity fraud, but soon they will be. You don't want to be in the middle of a fraud, do you?
Better to fess up now. You'll feel better in the long run. In the end, honesty IS the best policy.
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