[facemeike]

My question involves paternity law for the State of: Pennsylvania

I was contacted 5 years after the birth of a child. No father is named on BC. I was contacted to take paternity test for potential adoption by another man. If i take test and child is proven to be mine do I have to be on BC, if not will my name be linked to BC because I am biological father? Can i be hit for back child support even though I was never notified? I need help with my rights....Please

[queenie2]

If another man wants to adopt the child, then you will be asked to voluntarily terminate your parental rights so the adoption can proceed. You will have no rights to the child, nor will you have any obligations once the child is adopted.

It's unllikely that you would have to pay any back support if you were never notified. The only exception I think would be if your whereabouts were unknown, or you ignored a summons, when the mother filed for support. However, since you've been contacted about the paternity test, I'm sure you would have already been contacted about arrearages too.

[facemeike]

queenie thanks, i was informed that i needed to take paternity test strictly to terminate my parental rights, would you get something in writing before you submitted to a DNA test. It is not a court ordered test but through the woman's attorney.

[queenie2]

Not necessary IMO. Let's say that her real motive is to collect child support from you. If that's the case, then eventually it WILL be a court ordered DNA test. However, if you're afraid of arrearages, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask her to sign a waiver. Just be aware that if there was an open case, and she was collecting from the state, the court will not allow her to waive it.

[queenie2]

Really though, I don't think you have to worry. If child support was in this equation, she could have just gone through CSE instead of paying to go through a lawyer.