Legal Question in Family Law in New York

Being told I'm the Father

I went on a few dates with a woman. She is now telling me I that she is pregnant and I am the Father. I wish we never met. She has been harassing me and telling me she will have the baby one day and terminate the pregnancy the next day. Neither of us are married. She told me she was going to abort the child and demanded $1000.00 from me. I gave her the money for the medical bill. Now she says that she wants to have the child. She has been telling me if I take her away for a weekend, she may end the pregnancy, etc. She is very irrational. I do not want to be responsible for bringing a child into the world through this woman. I understand my mistake. She is now saying I will be paying for the rest of my life for this. Am I responsible? Will a DNA test be ordered of me? Concerned about my options.


Asked on 11/20/01, 11:32 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Jonathan J. Braverman Jonathan J. Braverman, Attorney & Mediator

Re: Being told I'm the Father

If you are not sure you are the father, you have the right to have a DNA test [which you will have to pay for]. You do not have the right to compel her to have an abortion, nor does the court.

When the child is born, you will have the obligation to pay child support for 21 years, unless you can establish that you are not the father, or otherwise settle with her.

If you wish to discuss this further, please call me to schedule a confidential attorney / client consultation.

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Answered on 11/20/01, 12:14 pm
John Hayes The Law Office of John M. Hayes

Re: Being told I'm the Father

Some might caution you that there is probably nothing good or advantageous to be gained by trying to maintain contact with, "negotiate" with, or otherwise trying to 'handle' someone who was actually as irrational as you suggest. Trying to take such steps, now, might do more to increase {not decrease} the likelihood that she will act to try to make you responsible after the birth of the child.

Good luck.

Regards, etc.,

JMHayes

>>--> The foregoing amounts to musings and observations based on some years familiarity with the 'day-to-day' operation of the law with regard to the issues involved In The Most General sense; my remarks should not be thought of as "legal advice and counsel" in the formal sense of that phrase, since there is, in fact, no 'attorney / client' relationship existing between us. <-<<

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Answered on 11/21/01, 4:55 pm


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