Establishing Paternity and Subsequent Responsibilities

[Ann Smith]

My question involves paternity law for the State of: Chicago, Florida,Nevada!

What do you do if you think a child is yours? My husband was married prior to me and his ex-wife was unfaithful and they divorced. They were married in Chicago and moved to Florida. When she was unfaithful they resulted in a divorce. While going through the divorce they were still being intimate here and there. The ex-wife moved to Chicago after the divorce and married the man she was unfaithful to my husband with. There is somewhat of a possibility that she did not know who got her pregnant. The man that she married I assume gave the child his name as he most likely thought it was his. The child is now fifteen years of age and she looks like she could be my daughters sister. Also she resembles my husband a little but, the other man and my husband have similar features. We want to do the right think but, do not want the financial Responsibility of this child for the previous fifteen years hence we did not even know about this possibility until we saw the child's picture for the first time about three weeks ago. It is definitely weighing on our hearts and minds what to do. What are our rights and what are the laws about child support and getting paternity tests. should we just come out and ask her? Would we be responsible to pay child support from the time she was born if we did not know about her? Could the ex-wife and her husband be trying to pull a fast one on us. Could the the other man come after us for back child support and does he have a leg to stand since we had no ideal? Could we go after her for keeping this from my husband for 15 years? Any answers you can give would be great. Thank you!

[Mr. Knowitall]

After fifteen years, you're probably not going to have much luck trying to convince a court to revisit the question of paternity. Your only "evidence" appears to be, "She looks like her legal father, but she also looks like my spouse" - as evidence, that's worth next to nothing. And what would be the excuse for doing nothing for fifteen years?

If your spouse wishes to try to initiate a paternity action at this late date, consider retaining a lawyer to assist and advise you.