Legal Question in Family Law in Minnesota

Re: Paternity in Minnesota when parties are not married and both minors

If he attempts to establish paternity, you can't stop him.

If your daughter seeks any sort of public assistance (MFIP, medical assistance, day care assistance, food stamps), the county will seek to establish paternity so that they can get $$ reimbursement from the father.

If he establishes paternity, you could argue to a judge that he should not have any parenting time with the child. However, this will be determined by his track record, not by his family's history.

You might be able to adopt your granddaughter, but I'm not certain how that would play out. If you adopt her, your daughter will lose her legal rights to the child. You need to consult with an attorney to decide whether this approach makes any sense.

Herbert C. Kroon/507/625/3000

Attorney at Law

Chesley, Kroon, Harvey & Carpenter

[email protected]

Re: Paternity in Minnesota when parties are not married and both minors

A father may always seek to establish paternity and assert his rights to custody and/or parenting time. Child support would also be determined at that time. You cannot prospectively terminate someone's parental rights before they have demonstrated an incapacity to be a parent.

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