Capitol Hill Blue Forums Misc. Topics History Roundtable Whose kid is it, anyway?

Now we’ve circled back to the beginning of this thread: what is paternity? Is it a financial or social relationship to a child? Is it a genetic relationship?

Is it a legal definition, as a name on a birth certificate, guardianship, adoption certificate, or genetic test?

Once paternity is acknowledged, should a father be able to abandon their responsibility simply by walking away, making no arrangements for the child’s welfare (as the mother would have to do for a child, or be subject to prosecution?

I have to go look something up so I’ll post this before I lose it. As if there was any doubt, I’ll be back.