Opinion ID: 1693653
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Equitable Parenthood

Text: The equitable parent doctrine was announced in Atkinson v. Atkinson, supra at 608-609, 408 N.W.2d 516: Therefore, we adopt the doctrine of equitable parent and find that a husband who is not the biological father of a child born or conceived during the marriage may be considered the natural father of that child where (1) the husband and the child mutually acknowledge a relationship as father and child, or the mother of the child has cooperated in the development of such a relationship over a period of time prior to the filing of the complaint for divorce, (2) the husband desires to have the rights afforded to a parent, and (3) the husband is willing to take on the responsibility of paying child support. By its terms, this doctrine applies, upon divorce, with respect to a child born or conceived during the marriage. Here, Mr. Van and Ms. Zahorik were never married. The present custody dispute is not in the context of a divorce, and the children at issue were not born or conceived during marriage. Accordingly, the doctrine of equitable parenthood would not apply to the present case. Mr. Van asks this Court to extend the doctrine outside the context of marriage. As indicated above, the extension of substantive rights regarding child custody implicates significant public policy issues and is within the province of the Legislature, not the judiciary. Accordingly, the primary reason we will not extend this theory here is that the Child Custody Act, which occupies the field of child custody, does not recognize such a theory. [3] Further, taking a doctrine rooted in marriage and extending it to persons who were never married would have repercussions on the institution of marriage. Michigan's public policy favors marriage. McCready v. Hoffius, 459 Mich. 131, 140, 586 N.W.2d 723 (1998), vacated in part on other grounds 459 Mich. 1235, 593 N.W.2d 545 (1999). [4] In Carnes v. Sheldon, 109 Mich.App. 204, 216, 311 N.W.2d 747 (1981), the Court of Appeals quoted the Illinois Supreme Court opinion in Hewitt v. Hewitt, 77 Ill.2d 49, 58, 31 Ill.Dec. 827, 394 N.E.2d 1204 (1979), which thoughtfully addressed the propriety of the judiciary weighing the equities in claims between cohabitants: There are major public policy questions involved in determining whether, under what circumstances, and to what extent it is desirable to accord some type of legal status to claims arising from such relationships. Of substantially greater importance than the rights of the immediate parties is the impact of such recognition upon our society and the institution of marriage. Will the fact that legal rights closely resembling those arising from conventional marriages can be acquired by those who deliberately choose to enter into what have heretofore been commonly referred to as `illicit' or `meretricious' relationships encourage formation of such relationships and weaken marriage as the foundation of our family-based society? In the event of death shall the survivor have the status of a surviving spouse for purposes of inheritance, wrongful death actions, workmen's compensation, etc.? And still more importantly: what of the children born of such relationships? What are their support and inheritance rights and by what standards are custody questions resolved? What of the sociological and psychological effects upon them of that type of environment? Does not the recognition of legally enforceable property and custody rights emanating from nonmarital cohabitation in practical effect equate with the legalization of common law marriage ... ? Here, the Court of Appeals correctly observed that a relationship that does not constitute a legal marriage does not give rise to property rights between the parties, and, similarly, that a court should not be unmindful of the role of our Legislature concerning access to children on the periphery of such relationships. It opined: [I]f this Court [in Carnes, supra ] was struck by the magnitude of the public policy questions arising from property disputes in cohabitation situations, there can be no doubt that questions pertaining to the best interests of children in cohabitation situations should be left to the legislative process, especially if one of the cohabitants seeking custody or visitation is not biologically related to the child. [227 Mich.App. at 97, 575 N.W.2d 566.] We hold that because the requested extension of the equitable parent doctrine would affect the state's public policy in favor of marriage, the Legislature is clearly the appropriate entity to consider this issue. Finally, we note that the strongest rationales undergirding the equitable parenthood doctrine within marriage relate to reinforcement of the importance of marriage and legitimacy. These important policies can provide no justification for, and in fact are antithetical to, the extension of the doctrine outside the context of marriage. The Atkinson Court relied on the doctrine of equitable adoption, which itself is premised on the marriage relationship as articulated in the intestate succession statute, M.C.L. § 700.111; MSA 27.5111. [5] Section 111 states in pertinent part: (2) If a child is born or conceived during a marriage, both spouses are presumed to be the natural parents of the child for all purposes of intestate succession.... (3) Only the person presumed to be the natural parent of a child under subsection (2) may disprove any presumption that may be relevant to the relationship, and this exclusive right to do so terminates upon the death of the presumed parent. The Atkinson Court opined, It is only logical that a person recognized as a natural parent in death should have the same recognition in life. Id. at 611, 408 N.W.2d 516. In addition, we note that the equitable parenthood doctrine, as set forward in Atkinson, is consistent with the presumption that children born during a marriage are legitimate. While this Court, in Serafin v. Serafin, 401 Mich. 629, 258 N.W.2d 461 (1977), discontinued adherence to Lord Mansfield's Rule (which barred a husband or wife from testifying about nonaccess to each other), it reiterated that a child is guarded by the still viable and strong, though rebuttable, presumption of legitimacy. Id. at 636, 258 N.W.2d 461. This presumption provides an additional basis for the equitable parent doctrine. The rationales provide a sound basis for equitable parenthood in the context of marriage because they are bottomed in statute and consistent with this state's public policy in favor of marriage and legitimacy. [6] These justifications are lacking in the context of a cohabitation relationship, however, and this lack of justification with respect to children born out of wedlock fatally undermines the case for extending equitable parenthood outside the context of marriage. Accordingly, we conclude that Mr. Van's equitable parenthood claim fails.