You are the not the father: man forced to pay child support for baby he found isn’t his
- 7 years ago
TULSA, OKLAHOMA — An Oklahoma man in is getting a raw deal after finding out the child he’s fathered for three years isn’t his. The victim of an unusual state law, the man is also forced to make child support payments.
When Thomas’ high school girlfriend told him she was pregnant, he wanted to do right by her, and so the two got married. Five months later, Thomas’ wife gave birth to a baby boy, but the two couldn’t make things work and eventually split.
Having suspicions about whether his son was actually his, Thomas decided to take a paternity test – the test came back 0.00%. Shocked at how he could be so misled, he took his case to the courtroom.
When a judge ordered that Thomas take another paternity test, the results came back the same. Initially, the courts deemed he was not financially responsible for the child, but the judge later reversed the decision. Under Oklahoma law, paternity must be tested before the child’s second birthday. After that, the presumed father becomes the legal father, and DNA tests are no longer of consequence.
Now, Thomas finds himself paying the baby’s mama $500 a month in child support, as well as an additional $15,000 in back support, with interest.
When Thomas’ high school girlfriend told him she was pregnant, he wanted to do right by her, and so the two got married. Five months later, Thomas’ wife gave birth to a baby boy, but the two couldn’t make things work and eventually split.
Having suspicions about whether his son was actually his, Thomas decided to take a paternity test – the test came back 0.00%. Shocked at how he could be so misled, he took his case to the courtroom.
When a judge ordered that Thomas take another paternity test, the results came back the same. Initially, the courts deemed he was not financially responsible for the child, but the judge later reversed the decision. Under Oklahoma law, paternity must be tested before the child’s second birthday. After that, the presumed father becomes the legal father, and DNA tests are no longer of consequence.
Now, Thomas finds himself paying the baby’s mama $500 a month in child support, as well as an additional $15,000 in back support, with interest.