Source: http://mtlawoffice.com/blog/category/paternity-legitimation/
Timestamp: 2015-08-28 19:09:42
Document Index: 202678297

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 19', '§ 19', '§ 15', '§ 19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19', '§19']

Paternity | Meriwether & Tharp
Tags: children, father, paternity, paternity judgment Posted in Paternity | Comments Off on Setting Aside Paternity Judgments in Georgia
The simple answer to the question posed above is: Yes, it is possible for you to rescind your acknowledgement or deny paternity even after signing the putative father registry and acknowledging paternity. But, like any other legal issue, especially family law issues, there are exceptions to this general rule and the ability to rescind an acknowledgement rely on the specific circumstances of your case. Now, for the longer answer…
Generally, once you have acknowledged paternity on the putative father registry you may subsequently deny paternity or rescind the acknowledgement at any time before a child support or other order is entered that establishes that you are the father of the child, such as an order of paternity or order of legitimation. If the mother agreed that you were the father of the child and indicated such by signing an acknowledgement of paternity with you, you may rescind your acknowledgement of paternity as long as you do so within 60 days of your initial acknowledgment. Within this time limit, you may rescind your acknowledgment at any time unless a court enters an order finding that you are the father of the child.
Georgia’s law regarding the rescission of paternity acknowledgments is codified in O.C.G.A. § 19-7-46.1. According to Georgia law:
If, after this 60 day period, you later find that you are not in fact the father of the child all hope is not lost. However, after the time limit is lapsed it will be necessary to contact a Georgia paternity attorney to aid you with the process of rescind your acknowledgment and disestablishing paternity.
Tags: child support, deny putative father registry, family law, Georgia Putative Registry, legitimation, paternity, rescission of paternity Posted in Paternity | Comments Off on Putative Father Registry: Can I Deny Paternity?
What is the putative father registry in Georgia?
In Georgia, the putative father registry is a statewide listing containing information about men who may be the biological father of a child. Georgia’s putative father registry lists the name, address, and social security number of men who have either:
See O.C.G.A. § 19-11-9(d)(1).
Why should a father register with the putative father registry in Georgia?
A man should register with Georgia’s putative father registry if:
He believes he may be the father of a child in Georgia
The mother of the child is preventing him from having contact with the child
He does not know where his child is currently living
It is important for fathers who believe they may be the father of a child, even if paternity has yet to be established via a blood test, to register with the putative father registry, because registering will ensure that father is notified about any adoptions petitions that may have been filed concerning the child. Additionally, registering with the putative father registry will also ensure that the father will receive notice of other court proceedings where his parental rights are subject to termination. To guarantee adequate notice of any legal proceedings involving the child, the putative father should register as soon as he becomes aware that he may be the father of a child, preferably before the child’s birth. See O.C.G.A. § 15-11-83(i)(3). How does a father register with Georgia’s putative father registry? In some situations, a putative or alleged father’s name and information will automatically appear on the Registry. For example, a father may be automatically registered if his name appears on the child’s birth certificate. In situations where a father name does not automatically appear on the registry, he must register with the state agency that maintains the registry, the Georgia Department of Human Resources division of Vital Records. As mentioned above, a father may register under one of two categories: 1) a father may claim that he is the father of a child, or 2) a father may claim that he is possible the father of a child.
Fathers who have not been automatically registered may find a putative rather registry registration form at their county’s Vital Records Registrar’s Office, Health Department, or probate court office. Additionally, the form may be obtained online from the Department of Human Resources, Division of Vital Records. If a father has already registered with the putative father registry, but needs to update information such as his address, he may mail or fax a letter to the address below. In the letter the father should include his complete name, Social Security number, old information as it was originally entered in the Registry, and the new information as it should be shown in the Registry.
Tags: biological father, father, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Georgia putative father registry, legitimation, paternity, putative father registry Posted in Paternity | Comments Off on Georgia Putative Father Registry
In Georgia, in order for a man to be deemed the legal father of a child, the child must have been born during marriage or have been legitimated. See O.C.G.A. § 19-7-21.1. If a child is born to two parents who are not married to each other, he or she may be legitimated by their biological father to establish the legal father/child relationship between the biological father and the child. Id. However, what happens in the situation where more than one father seeks to be the legitimate or legal father of one child? In such a situation, a legal phenomenon known as delegitimation may occur.
Delegitimation may occur if, for example:
Mother becomes pregnant and subsequently gives birth while in a relationship with Boyfriend. Boyfriend believing that the child is his files for and obtains an order for legitimation. A few years later, Boyfriend seeks and obtains primary custody of the child. In response, Mother alleges that Boyfriend should not be entitled to custody, because he is not the true biological father of child. After paternity testing is performed, Father is identified at the true biological father of the child, and Father files to legitimate the child. If the court presiding over the matter grants Father’s Petition for Legitimation, Boyfriend’s status as the legal father of child will be effectively terminated, and Boyfriend will effectively be delegitimated.
See generally Davis v. LeBrec, 274 Ga. 5 (2001); Baker v. Baker, 276 Ga. 778 (2003); Mathers v. Dukes, 314 Ga. App. 782 (2012). The issue of delegitimation has been reviewed by both the Georgia Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the holdings by Georgia’s high courts indicate that although delegitimation as a concept is recognized by the courts, it is not favored. In each of the above cited cases, the court presiding over the matter refused to delegitimate the legal father. Often, the rational for the court’s refusal to delegitimate the legal father often revolves around the best interest of the child standard. Although Georgia courts tend to disfavor delegitimation, this concept is recognized by the court, and may be possible under the appropriate circumstances.
Tags: Baker v. Baker, biological father, child custody, Davis v. LeBrec, delegitimation, delegitmate, Father's Petition for Legitimation, Georgia Court of Appeals, Georgia courts, Georgia Supreme Court, legitimation, legitimize, Mathers v. Dukes, paternity, primary custody Posted in Paternity | Comments Off on Delegitimation is Possible in Georgia but is Not Favored
How would Georgia law apply to a divorce, child custody, paternity or legitimation action in which 22 children were involved? Well, we will soon find out how the law of Tennessee would apply in such a case when the Davidson County, Tennessee Juvenile Court determines the outcome in the Orlando Shaw matter.
According to Nashville media outlets, Orlando Shaw, a Tennessee native who has fathered 22 children with 14 women, is currently facing what is possibly one of Tennessee’s most expansive and expensive child support cases. The mothers of Shaw’s children have sought the intervention of the Davidson County court system in order to recover several thousands of dollars in unpaid child support. The 33 year old Shaw argues that he is unable to meet his substantial child support burden due to his inability to obtain adequate employment because of his prior criminal record.
Even if Shaw did not face any difficulty in finding employment, Magistrate Judge Scott Rosenberg, the presiding judge in the matter, suggested in a statement that one job may be grossly insufficient. According to Magistrate Rosenberg, Shaw would likely have to take on up to three or four full time jobs to even come close to being able to satisfy his child support obligation. In addition to the difficulty that Shaw will face in meeting his obligation, Magistrate Rosenberg will likely face some difficulty himself in applying Tennessee state law to Shaw’s case. In a statement, Magistrate Rosenberg questioned: “How do we apply our child support guidelines to this many children in this many households?”
Applying this very question to Georgia law, we find that it is very likely that any Georgia judge in Magistrate Rosenberg’s position would likely be momentarily puzzled as well. According to Georgia law, child support shall be calculated using Georgia’s Child Support Worksheet. Taking a look at the worksheet, it becomes clear that a matter involving more than 20 children was not anticipated by the child support commission, as the worksheet only allows for child support calculations for up to 12 children at a time. See Georgia’s Guide to Implementation of The New Child Support Guidelines, Part I, Section 5.
One solution a court would likely consider in a matter such as the Shaw case where the children reside is different households, is allowing for adjustments for other, preexisting child support orders by utilizing Schedule B of the child support worksheet. Additionally, as the number of the adjustments that may be made in Schedule B is also limited, the likely outcome in a case such as the Shaw matter is that the presiding court would utilize is discretion in determining the child support amount that should be awarded to the custodial parents. See generally O.C.G.A. 19-6-15. Hopefully no Georgia court will be presented with facts such as those of the Shaw case, but if they were, it would be interesting to analyze the court’s determination in the matter.
Tags: child custody, child support, divorce, Georgia law, Georgia's Child Support Worksheet, Georgia's Guide to Implementation of The New Child Support Guidelines, legitimation, Orlando Shaw, paternity, Tennessee law Posted in Divorce, Paternity | Comments Off on The Orlando Shaw Case: How Would Georgia Law Apply?
Posted in Appeals, Family Law Case Update, Legitimation, Paternity | Comments Off on Legitimation and due process in Georgia
Posted in Legitimation, Paternity, Termination of Parental Rights | Comments Off on Termination of parental rights in Georgia when father is not on birth certificate
While a petition for paternity is pending in Georgia, a party to the action (usually the mother or guardian of the child) may file a motion for a temporary order of child support. OCGA§19-7-46.2. If there is “clear and convincing evidence of paternity,” the temporary order is required to be issued in accordance with the child support guidelines, and will be valid pendinga determination of parentage. OCGA §19-7-46.2(a).
Since there will have been no final determination of parentage at the time the temporary order is issued, the payments are not made to the child’s mother or guardian. Rather, any child supportpayments made pursuant to the order are made to the court, which deposits the money into a separate bank account to be held in escrow. OCGA §19-7-46.2(b). If there is a final judgmentthat the alleged father is the father of the child, the amount held in escrow “shall be paid to the appropriate person or entity along with any interest that may have accrued.” OCGA§19-7-46.2(c). The appropriate entity in this situation is likely the mother of the child. If there is a final judgment that the alleged father is not the father of the child, the amount inescrow “shall be returned to the putative father along with any interest that may have accrued.” OCGA §19-7-46.2(d). Posted in Paternity | Comments Off on Temporary child support in Georgia paternity cases
Any relevant evidence may be introduced at a paternity hearingin Georgia, but there are specific rules regarding certain evidence, including the results of genetic testing. Specifically, theresults of genetic testing “shall be admitted in evidence without the need for foundation testimony or other proof of authenticity or accuracy” so long as a party to the genetic test does notobject in writing at least 30 days prior to the hearing. OCGA §19-7-46(a). If a party does object in writing within the required time frame, the evidence can still be admitted, but mustbe “offered by a duly qualified, licensed practicing physician, duly qualified immunologist, duly qualified geneticist, or other duly qualified person.” Id.
If a genetic test establishes at least a 97% probability of paternity, there is a rebuttable presumption of paternity. OCGA §19-7-46(b). A party can only overcome this presumption byoffering clear and convincing evidence that the paternity test is incorrect. Id.
A few other items are specifically mentioned under Georgia law as admissible evidence in a paternity hearing:(1) Evidence of a refusal to submit to genetic testing is admissible “to show that the alleged father is not precluded from being the father of the child.” OCGA 19-7-46(c).(2) An expert’s opinion about the time of conception is admissible. OCGA §19-7-46(d).(3) Testimony relating to sexual access to the mother by any person on or about the probable time of conception is admissible. OCGA §19-7-46(e). Posted in Paternity | Comments Off on Admissible evidence in Georgia paternity cases
In Georgia, a child born out of wedlock is considered the biological child of both his mother and father, but only the mother is immediately considered to be the “legal parent.” In situationssuch as this, the father may not be supporting the child at all, or an older child may wish to know with certainty the identity of his/her father. To remedy issues such as these, a party may filea petition to establish paternity. This petition may be brought by the child, the mother of the child, any relative in whose care the child has been placed, the Department of Human Services (ifpublic assistance is received), or an alleged father. OCGA §19-7-43(a)(1-5). The petition may be brought before the child is born, but all proceedings except service of process,discovery and depositions must be stayed until after the birth. OCGA §19-7-43(c).
Any party to the paternity proceeding may move for genetic testing of the mother, alleged father, and the child or children. OCGA §19-7-43(d). The motion must be “supported by a swornstatement (1) alleging paternity and setting forth facts establishing a reasonable possibility of the requisite sexual contact between the parties; or (2) denying paternity and setting forthfacts establishing a reasonable possibility of the nonexistence of sexual contact between the parties.” OCGA §19-7-43(d). The court is required to grant the motion unless if finds good cause, or good excuse for noncooperation. Id.
The specifics surrounding genetic testing will be discussed in more detail in a future blog. Posted in Paternity | Comments Off on Petitions to Establish Paternity in Georgia