Legal Question in Family Law in Virginia

waving paternity rights

A woman is trying to get me to claim a child that could be mine. The child is one and half years old. I seen the child when it was first born at the hospital. I never sign the birth certificate the mother said I allowed her to use my last name not true. Now she is taking me to court for child support. I was wondering can I sign child over to her mother and have no claim to the child and not be responsible for support. The child doesn't know me nor do I know her. Or can they make me be responsible for the child even if I don't show up for court. Since the mother signed a affidavit saying I was the parent. We were never married. please help with this question


Asked on 3/06/02, 10:09 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: waving paternity rights

Yes, you can be summoned into court and ordered

to undergo a paternity test, the results of which will determine whether you are also ordered to pay child support.

If you fail to show up for court or to comply with

the court's order to take the test you can be

found in contempt and ordered to jail.

I'm afraid that you do not have the option of

"waiving" your paternity rights to the child.

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Answered on 3/07/02, 4:16 pm


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