Talk about a bind: a guy in Florida is being pushed to pay child support for a child that isn't his. He has a DNA test to prove he isn't the daddy. The girl's mom has said he's off the hook. But the state continues to go after him for money because he missed the deadline to contest paternity. Unfortunately for him, he didn't get the papers telling him about his supposed kid until after the deadline had passed.
Part of the issue is that some states have strict laws for payments because, well, it can be tough for the kids when these things drag out a long time. Of course, this situation is utterly absurd. Something ought to be done, because these poor guys shouldn't get the shaft. But I was kinda struck by another case mentioned: another guy paid support for 12 years before discovering through DNA test the girl he thought was his daughter, wasn't. Here's what he did: "'I stopped having a relationship with the girl right from the
beginning, when I found out,' he said. 'It was hard, but I had to do
it.'"
Hmmm, I won't pretend to know anything about this family, but sheesh, the thought of severing ties with a child you've believed was yours for more than 12 years seems, well...it makes my heart break for the kid. Because whether the guy was the sperm contributor or no, it's not her fault she called the wrong guy 'dad'.
