Court Opinion

ID: 9690008
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 18:51:40.444909+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:53.214290
License: Public Domain

SHORT, Judge
(concurring specially).
I would affirm the trial court’s decision because a presumption of paternity based on a declaration of parentage becomes conclusive if not challenged within three years of the declaration. Minn.Stat. § 257.57, subd. 2(2) (1992); Wilson v. Speer, 499 N.W.2d 850, 854, n. 3 (Minn.App.), pet. for rev. granted *562(Minn. July 19, 1993); see Pierce v. Pierce, 374 N.W.2d 450, 452 (Minn.App.) (three-year statute of limitations applies by analogy where contrary rule would be inconsistent with treatment of presumed fathers and would undermine purpose of promoting legitimacy), pet. for rev. denied (Minn. Nov. 4, 1985). I write separately because I do not find competing presumptions of paternity.
The record demonstrates (1) four days after C.M.G.’s birth, Lyke and the mother executed a Declaration of Parentage, (2) the declaration was properly filed with the Department of Vital Statistics, (3) Lyke and the mother announced to all that Lyke is the biological father of C.M.G. and expenses associated with C.M.G.’s birth were paid by Lyke’s insurance, (4) for the last six years, C.M.G. has stayed with Lyke at least three days each week and called Lyke “daddy,” (5) Lyke has paid the mother $200 per month as child support since April 1988, and (6) no one challenged the declaration of parentage until this lawsuit. Under these facts and in light of Minn.Stat. § 257.57, subd. 2(2), the three-year statute of limitations bars this lawsuit to nullify the existence of Lyke’s relationship to C.M.G.