Legal Question in Family Law in Michigan
embarrassed, baby from an affair
My husband I and I decided to divorce after living apart for a few months and spent one last weekend together. I went out, spent the next week on vacation drowning my sorrows with some friends and liquor- slept with another man. My husband and I ended up working things out (he knew about the incident) and then I found out I was pregnant. My son is just over a year old now and we just had a paternity test done. My husband and I are heartbroken with the result, and we'd like to know what our and the other mans legal rights are as far as child support and such. The other man does know I was pregnant, but I really didn't think the baby would be his so I never forced the issue. Any advice on how to tackle this embarrassing and touchy situation?
I would like to settle this matter out of court and as amicable as possible. (I currently live in MI, but the other man and the incident took place in MD where I lived at the time.)
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: embarrassed, baby from an affair
If all the adults can agree to a course of action while the child is too young to know, that would be best.
You have a couple of options. The courts will not force the other man to pay child support,--a child is presumed under the law to be the offspring of the husband and wife. The fact that you (apparently) know differently doesn't change that.
Maybe first, you and your husband should get into therapy and decide on a common story to tell the child, so that the real creation story doesn't scar the kid for life.
Contact Wayne Mediation Center. If they are outside of your area, they can direct you to a mediation center that is closer.
Of course, I suppose, if the other man wants to force the issue, he can make life miserable, but what he won't be able to do is force his way in on your parenting without your consent. If you want him involved, then that's definitely something for the therapist.
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