Paternity Fraud
What is paternity Fraud?
To commit paternity fraud a person must knowingly name someone as the biological father of a child knowing full well that it is not in fact true. This act often compounded by the fact that the accuser intends to collect child support for the child in question. In many cases this results in a man who is not in fact responsible for a child supporting that child financially. The term paternity fraud did not enter the public arena until the late 1990s when activist in the United States and Canada began advocating for the rights of children to have full disclosure to their true identity.
Avoiding Paternity Fraud
Fortunately, men have more options than ever before when it comes to protecting themselves from paternity fraud. If you are involved in a situation in which there is a child who may or may not be your child, you need to request that a paternity test be performed. In the past, for safety reasons this often had to wait until the child in question was born. Unfortunately, this was an emotionally wrenching situation for all parties involved. Now, Prenatal Paternity Testing is safer than ever before. Amniocentesis and chronic villi sampling carry a relatively low risk danger for the unborn baby or mother. Even better, is fetal/DNA testing which carries absolutely no risk at all.
Your Legal Rights
When it comes to the paternity of a child men do have rights in most countries. If you are married to the mother of an unborn child you are assumed the father of that child until it is proven otherwise through DNA testing. This means that you are also financially responsible for said child until that time. Depending on the country in which you live, you may or may not have legal recourse for any money you spent on the child prior paternity being determined.
In addition to marriage, paternity is also assumed when a man willing signs his name to a child's certificate of birth. This is true in most civilized countries. If at some point after signing a child's birth certificate you feel you have been lied to and may be a victim of paternity fraud you can seek DNA testing. However, depending on where you live and the length of time you have supported the child emotionally and financially the results may not make a difference legally. You may still be held responsible for that child until they reach adulthood..