Opinion ID: 1908176
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Balance of Policy Considerations

Text: Moreover, we agree with the Fourth District's reasoning in Parker that the balance of policy considerations does not require a different result, particularly with regard to the presumption of legitimacy. We find that the balance of policy considerations favors protecting the best interests of the child over protecting the interests of one parent defrauded by the other parent in the midst of a divorce proceeding. The Fourth District presents a fair summary of our concerns, as follows: We recognize that the former husband in this case may feel victimized. However, Theresa Glennon argues cogently that: [w]hile some individuals are innocent victims of deceptive partners, adults are aware of the high incidence of infidelity and only they, not the children, are able to act to ensure that the biological ties they may deem essential are present. . . . The law should discourage adults from treating children they have parented as expendable when their adult relationships fall apart. It is the adults who can and should absorb the pain of betrayal rather than inflict additional betrayal on the involved children. [Mary J. Anderlik, Disestablishment Suits: What Hath Science Wrought?, 4 J. Center for Families, Child. & Cts. 3, 18 (2003)] (quoting Theresa Glennon, Expendable Children: Defining Belonging in a Broken World, 8 Duke J. Gender L. & Pol'y 269, 275 (2001)). Parker, 916 So.2d at 934. [4] The petitioner urges this Court to adopt the reasoning of the First District in M.A.F. In M.A.F., the First District found that because paternity is presumed when a child is born to a marriage due to the presumption of legitimacy, a father is under no obligation to contest or try the issue of paternity during the dissolution of marriage proceedings; and because the father in that case had no reason to contest paternity otherwise, the wife's misrepresentation concerning paternity constituted extrinsic fraud which may be attacked any time. See M.A.F., 573 So.2d at 863. However, as we have stated, the presumption of legitimacy was created primarily to protect the welfare of the child. Sacks v. Sacks, 267 So.2d 73, 76 (Fla.1972). The presumption of legitimacy is a constitutional right afforded to every child born into a marriage granting the child the right to remain legitimate, both legally and factually, if doing so is in the child's best interest. See art. I, § 9, Fla. Const.; see also Dep't of Health & Rehab. Servs. v. Privette, 617 So.2d 305, 307 (Fla.1993). Furthermore, courts have consistently held that it is generally in a child's best interest to promote stability and finality in matters of paternity. See, e.g., Fla. Dep't of Revenue ex rel. R.A.E. v. M.L.S., 756 So.2d 125, 127 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000) (citing Benac v. Bree, 590 So.2d 536 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991); Marshall v. Marshall, 386 So.2d 11 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980)). While we certainly are mindful of the impact this decision has on the petitioner's interests, as explained above, the current balance of policy considerations favors protecting the best interests of the child over protecting the interests of one parent defrauded by the other parent in the midst of a divorce proceeding. Thus, we agree with the Fourth District that the current balance of policy considerations does not require a different result and that any policy considerations requiring a different result, particularly with regard to the presumption of legitimacy, are best addressed by the Legislature. [5] Accordingly, we approve the essential reasoning and conclusion of the Fourth District's opinion in Parker and disapprove the First District's opinion in M.A.F.