Newsletter Sign Up

e-mail address:


HomeForumAsk a LawyerResourcesStoreAbout UsPodcastsOnline ShowsArticle ArchiveClient CenterNewsletter

Browse Popular Topics

Our 10 most popular categories each containing Ask a Lawyer answers, articles, and resources to help you.

Additional Resources

 









 

 

 

 







 

 

 

 







 

 

 

 

Podcast Feed
Disclaimer

Dads Divorce - Free custody and alimony advice for men and fathers.

Providing essential divorce, alimony, custody and support information and resources to men at any stage of divorce.

Nov 25
2009

Parental rights for unwed biological fathers challenged

Posted by: Matt Allen on Nov 25, 2009

A Michigan man is challenging a state law that says he cannot demand visitation or pay child support for a child that is his, but was born while the mother was married to another man.

Today’s Detroit News article looks at the case of Daniel Quinn, a 32-year-old man who is the biological father of his 3-year-old daughter.  The girl’s mother was married – and still is – and according to Michigan law, Quinn has no parental standing because if the mother of the child is married at the time of birth to another man, then the husband is responsible for the child, not the biological father.

Quinn told the paper he is just looking to be involved in his daughter’s life. 

"I'm a good dad," he said. "Why should I not have rights to my child? Everything I do is for her."

Quinn is currently awaiting a ruling from the Michigan Court of Appeals on whether he has paternal standing.

What about you? Have any readers had similar experiences you would like to share?


[ Back ]
Trackback(0)
Comments (1)Add Comment
feedSubscribe to this comment's feed
0
Rights of Unwed Biological Fathers
written by SM, February 06, 2010
My husband is in a similar situation. He dated a woman for a few months and then they broke up. She learned that she was pregnant and never told my husband (this all happened before we met). She married another man while she was pregnant. She did not tell my husband about the baby until over a year after he was born. She then allowed him access to the child and he has been a part of that child's life for 6 years now. However, he is at the mercy of the mother, who is border-line neglectful. She is currently only allowing visitation 2 days a month. She has recently divorced her husband and is now pregnant with another man's child and is planning to marry him in a few months. My husband's child wants to see him more often, but his mother will not allow it. What can my husband do?

Write comment

busy