EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
Single Parenthood
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When comedienne Paula Poundstone was once asked if she had any children, she hilariously quipped, “No, I don’t . . . at least none that I know of, anyway.” I love that line. It’s very funny coming from a woman. But it’s not so funny coming from a man. Too often we hear stories of “deadbeat dads,” men who abandon their children, emotionally and financially, for whatever reason. But what about the good guys who get the shaft? The men who cherish being fathers, only to discover years later that the children they thought were their offspring are biologically someone else’s. It happens more often than you think. The American Association of Blood Banks reports that in more than 30% of paternity cases sent in for testing, the wrong man is identified as the biological father. Not to cast any judgments . . . but what’s going on here, Ladies? Either you know who the father of your child is or . . . there’s something else going on here. Sadly, it’s often about money, claims Carnell Smith. This Georgia engineer made paternity fraud a national issue and forced the courts to update paternity laws harkening back to King Henry VIII when, through a simple DNA test, he discovered he’d been supporting a daughter for 10 years who wasn’t his, biologically. Says Smith: “Wrongly forcing a man to pay for children he did not father can wreck his life and prevent him from being able to provide for his own family.” Financial gain aside, it’s simply not fair to men or children to not know with 100% certainty who to buy that Father’s Day card for. We all have a moral and legal right to know where we came from, who our blood relatives are, what our family medical history entails. The California Legislature thinks so, too. In 2004, it passed a bill that allows, in certain situations, for individuals to challenge a paternity judgment through genetic testing. With an accuracy index as high as 30 billion to one, DNA tests will settle the fatherhood question once and for all. So, how do you get a paternity test done? First off, don’t pay for one. It’s expensive and not necessary since the Orange County Department of Child Support Services (OCDCSS) will do it for free. Steve Eldred, the agency’s chief deputy director and a nationally renowned expert in paternity issues, says OCDCSS shed light on many cases last year. “. . . Out of 145 paternity disestablishments (through November), 37 of those weren’t the biological dad.” Consequently, these men were relieved of all child support obligations. As easy as the process is, some men are reluctant to take a paternity test out of pure chivalry. “If a dad goes into court to question the paternity, the mother hears, ‘You think I’m a tramp.’ And a gentleman doesn’t say that,” says Eldred. “A lot of people don’t ask, when really they should.” Have nagging doubts, yourself? Request the test. It’s free. Besides, I can’t think of a better way to start a new year than to know exactly who your own children are, can you? For more information on paternity testing, contact Child Support Services at 714.541.7600 or log onto www.css.ocgov.com. Senior Writer Lynn Armitage has two beautiful daughters . .. at least two that she knows of. |
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