A previous post on this blog talked about how men in Omaha and, for that matter, throughout Nebraska can sign an acknowledgement of paternity in lieu of going through formal DNA testing to establish paternity.
Usually, signing this acknowledgement winds up to be a positive step toward allowing a dad to get an order setting parenting time with his child, as it is an efficient shortcut to going through a lengthy, and more expensive, court process.
On the other hand, signing an acknowledgement can backfire if it turns out that, unbeknownst to the man, the child he just legally acknowledged is not biologically his. A man may wish to discontinue the relationship with the child, and the child’s mother, at that point, yet he legally remains the father, and thus responsible for providing child support, until his acknowledgement is legally set aside.
As we’ve discussed, if the dad acts promptly to have his acknowledgement set aside, it is relatively easy to do. Otherwise, however, a man is going to have to prove that he is entitled to relief by presenting appropriate evidence, as Nebraska courts will prefer not to deprive a child of a legal father.
In any event, setting aside an acknowledgement of paternity is a legal process that will require some formality and may even require a trip to the courthouse. As such, men in this situation will likely want an experienced attorney to help them resolve this issue. Our law office is prepared to assist men in this type of situation so they can have a clean break and move on with their lives.