Paternity Issues: Man Found to Have Fathered Only One Twin

 Posted on May 28, 2015 in Child Custody

A unique case recently made headlines in New Jersey, where a DNA test determined that a man was the father of just one twin.The man in question (known by court record as A.S.) was asked to submit to a paternity test after a woman who had given birth to twin girls came forth seeking child support. The mother (known by court record as T.M.) had listed A.S. as the father of both babies while applying for benefits in the county she lived in. However, she also admitted to social services that she had had intercourse with A.S. and another man before becoming pregnant.

Father of Only One Twin

A judge examined the case and determined the A.S. is only responsible to pay child support for one twin. The county had put forth an application to find A.S. liable for child support payment for both children, but this claim was dismissed by court.

Reliability of Paternity Tests

In his ruling, the judge found that the results of the paternity test were reliable, but called in an expert to back up the ruling, who informed the court that the girls were fraternal twins, the result of two separate eggs, and the eggs were fertilized by two different fathers.

Although rare, cases like this have occurred. The expert who testified in the case estimated that one in 13,000 paternity cases involved twins with different fathers. However, there is a possibility that these instances could be on the rise due to multiple cultural and medical factors, such as promiscuity and new reproductive technologies.

Two Twins, Two Fathers Perhaps More Common than Current Data Shows

Dr. Keith Eddleman seconds the judge's belief saying, "It's more common than we think." Eddleman, who works for Mount Sinai Hospital, says there is often "no reason to do a paternity test on twins," so parents would never know that the twins were bipaternal.

 A.S. must now pay $112 a month to T.M. to support his twin. It is unknown whether the father of the other twin will be required to pay child support since T.M. only provided A.S.'s name on her child support application.

Child paternity cases can be complicated and result in large child support payments. If there is any doubt as to parentage, fathers of multiple births (i.e. twins, triplet, etc.) should ensure that DNA tests are conducted on each child they are said to have fathered to determine that paternity is established correctly. If you believe you are facing paternity charges for a child that might not be yours, an experienced DuPage County family law attorney can evaluate your situation and provide you with a path toward resolution of the issues. Please contact the law offices of Stock, Carlson, Flynn and McGrath, LLC at 630-665-2500 today to schedule a consultation.