If my brother’s wife left him and they are still legally married and she is having a baby with another man, is my brother legally responsible for the baby?
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If my brother’s wife left him and they are still legally married and she is having a baby with another man, is my brother legally responsible for the baby?
Asked on September 28, 2012 under Family Law, North Carolina
Answers:
B.H.F., Member, Texas State Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Some courts will presume that he is the father of the child because the child was born during the marriage. However, since there is a biological dad in the picture, he does not have to be bound to be legally responsible for this child. Instead, he needs to file for a divorce combined with paternity suit so that he can have the new boyfriend officially declared dad. If he does not do this when he files for divorce, then he could end up being legally responsible for the child until the child reaches the age of majority. (Courts will argue that because he had an opportunity to contest paternity and failed to do so that he agreed to be dad.... this is mainly because the courts do not like to declare and undeclare dads in such a way that harms the child.)
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