Legal Question in Family Law in Pennsylvania

Rights of a father?

I have been with my husband for 9 years. Soon after we started dating, I paid a lawyer to fight for visitation rights for him for his 3 year old son. He was granted visitation, but after 2 months, his ex started making threats toward me. She accused that I was abusing her son and that she would have me arrested. Since I am a public employee who works with children, my husband felt that it would be best if we just stopped seeing this child because in a rural area rumors can be greatly exagerated and I could face suspension until an investigation took place. Soon after this, my husband was discussing blood types with a doctor who had studied genetics. This doctor told him that if the blood types he mentioned were accurate, he was not the father of that child. We asked the enforcement officer at DR for a blood test but were denied. He stated that since my husband had already agreed to be the father, he was the father and was also financially responsible. It is now over 8 years since we have seen this child. We still pay support but do not see the child. What rights do we have/what can we do?


Asked on 9/18/01, 2:46 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Brandon Barnett Brandon J. Barnett Attorney At Law

Re: Rights of a father?

This is a somewhat complicated matter, but you do have rights. If your husband is not the father and this is determined through a blood test and paternity hearing he will not have to pay support. If you are interested in visititation, you must decide if you want to adopt the child.

There are several areas that would need to be answered before you could receive an opinion. Decide on what your goals are and then I would suggest finding a good local attorney.

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Answered on 11/06/01, 1:12 am


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