But what if Bio Dad was told and denies it or doesn't care? In the State of Florida a child from a unwed couple does not have a legal Father until paternity is established. Is that fair to the child not to know who their Bio Farther is? No, but there are some out there who don't care and don't want the responsibility.
and then
Is it fair to just pick someone and name them as a Farther just because? This is someone that might change their mind and want to be with you because you say you're pregnant with "Their Child" and they are the Father? Someone that "You" want to be with and you hope a child will change their mind or out of convience.
And it works and years later the "Father" finds out he's not the "Father" then what? OR the man pays yrs of childsupport and medical for a child that's not his. The emotional toll it would take on the child, or the Father. The "Father suddenly stops seeing the child because he is not the actual Bio Father.
The person that you have named as the "Bio Father" is not really. Why should someone have to pay yrs of child support to a child that is not his, just because the Mother wants him in her childs life, her life or has thought this is a way to trap him.
Why should a guy have to have the responsibility of paying for a DNA test because the Mother names him as the Father? And what about the next guy and the next?
IMO if the couple are unwed (and the guy believes he is the Father) then a DNA test needs to be done after the child is born and before any of them leave the hospital. Signing a Paternity Acknowledgement is not good enough. Just because the Mother says you are the Father does not mean it is true.
IMO JG had enough sense to have the DNA test done and what if he hadn't. He would probably to this day believe he was Caylee's Dad. And if Caylee were alive today, would she know who her Bio Dad is? Probably not.
ETA: Which leads me to believe there was not a Paternity Acknowledgement signed, therefore no one named on the Birth Certificate as the legal Father OR the Birth Certificate was amended within the 60 days to remove JG as the Bio Father.
Establishing paternity means legally determining the father of the child.
If the parents are not married to each other when the child is born, the child does not have a legal father unless paternity is established.
http://www.paternitynet.com/faq22.html
and
It's Easy to Establish Paternity
There are three simple steps to establish paternity without going to court:
Step 1: Get a form.
You can get a
"paternity acknowledgment" form at a:
hospital or birthing center
county public health unit
Department of Children and Families office
Department of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement office.
Step 2: Read the form.
The form has important information you should know BEFORE you sign. Be sure you read and understand the information before you fill out and sign the form.
Step 3: Sign the form.
You must show a photo ID when you sign.
After both parents sign the paternity form, your child has a legal father. If you are parents of a newborn and sign the form at a hospital or birthing center, it doesn't cost you any money. If you sign the form after you leave the hospital, you may have to pay a small fee.
What Happens after Paternity Is Established?
After paternity is established, a court may then order child support payments and medical insurance for the child. The amount of child support is based primarily on both parents' incomes using guidelines set by state law. It is important for both parents to cooperate with the Department of Revenue's Child Support Enforcement Program so children in need can be helped as quickly as possible. If a custodial parent doesn't cooperate, the case may be closed.
http://www.paternitynet.com/faq22.html
JMO