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Daniel Quinn wants his child. Posted by Terry Bankert Flint Family Law 235-1970

WAS THE MOTHER DIVORCED?

Daniel Quinn of Fenton thought Candace was divorced. The couple lived together, and six years ago a daughter Maeleigh was born .

Candace wasn’t divorced returning to her husband. Her husband , under Michigan Law the presumed father of Maeleigh ,Adam Beckwith, claimed he had a legal right to be Maeleigh’s father. DNA showed Daniel Quinn was Maeleigh’s biological parent.

This article posted by Flint Divorce Attorney, Lawyer Terrry R. Bankert 235-1970

Candace and Adam moved to Kentucky becoming involved in criminal activity said to be using the little girl as a prop while they sold drugs out of their car. [1a]

Eventually, Beckwith was convicted of six drug-related felonies. Candace pled guilty to drug-related charges, as well as child neglect, but got off with probation. [1a]

Dan Quinn fought to get his daughter back, but legally, had no legal rights. The State of Michigan's Law then was a woman‘s husband is legally presumed to be the father of any child given birth to by his wife during the marriage. That law has changed due in part to the Quinn case.

Mr. Quinn is characterized as an alleged father.

In Revocation of Paternity actions an acknowledged father is a man who is determined to be the father based on signing an acknowledgment of parentage. An affiliated father is a man who has been determined to be a child’s father pursuant to a court action. An alleged father is a man who could have fathered the child. A presumed father is a man who was married to the mother at the time of conception or birth. MCL 722.1433.[3]

Quinn was not successful when he first attempted to be the legal father but All  his efforts caused e a package of bills jointly called the Revocation of Paternity Act to become Michigan law in P.A. 159. being codified in MCL 722.1431 et al.. They establish procedures for establishing that a child’s presumed father is not the actual father, in cases like ( Daniel Quinns] [1a]

42 percent of Michigan babies are born to unmarried women, and some, like Maeleigh are born to married women who have partners other than their husbands. [1a]


Dan Quinn still likely has a long, tough road ahead, especially if Maeleigh’s mother doesn’t want to give up custody. But these bills do give him a legal right to try and win back his daughter.[1a]

Daniel Quinn will now use the new state law his case ceated the Revocation of Paternity Act

The Revocation of Paternity Act, signed into law June 12, 2012, confers jurisdiction on the circuit court to determine the paternity of children in certain circumstances and to set aside acknowledgments, determinations, and judgments relating to paternity. MCL 722.1431 et seq.[3]

Paternity may be established in an action under the Revocation of Paternity Act, MCL 722.1431 et seq. The act permits the mother, the acknowledged father, an alleged father, the prosecuting attorney, or the DHS to bring an action to set aside acknowledgments, determinations, and judgments relating to paternity. If an alleged father files an action and “proves by clear and convincing evidence that he is the child’s father, the court may make a determination of paternity and enter an order of filiation” under section 7 of the Paternity Act, MCL 722.717. MCL 722.1445. [3]

ALLEGED FATHER MAY FILE

The alleged father may file if
  • he “did not know or have reason to know that the mother was married at the time of conception” and “[t]he presumed father, the alleged father, and the child’s mother at some time mutually and openly acknowledged a biological relationship between the alleged father and the child,” MCL 722.1441(3)(a);
  • he “did not know or have reason to know that the mother was married at the time of conception” and either (1) for at least two years prior to the action, the presumed father has failed “without good cause, to provide regular and substantial support for the child” or to comply substantially with a support order or (2) the child is less than three years old and does not live with the presumed father, MCL 722.1441(3)(b); or
  • “the mother was not married at the time of conception,” MCL 722.1441(3)(c).[1]


In an action filed by an alleged father, a court may determine that the child is born out of wedlock under three circumstances. First, the court may make the determination when “[t]he alleged father did not know or have reason to know that the mother was married at the time of conception” and “[t]he presumed father, the alleged father, and the child’s mother at some time mutually and openly acknowledged a biological relationship between the alleged father and the child.” MCL 722.1441(3)(a). Next, the court may make the determination when “[t]he alleged father did not know or have reason to know that the mother was married at the time of conception” and either (1) “[t]he presumed father, having the ability to support or assist in supporting the child, has failed or neglected, without good cause, to provide regular and substantial support for the child” or has failed to comply substantially with a support order, for at least two years before the action is filed, or (2) the child is less than three years old does not live with the presumed father. MCL 722.1441(3)(b). Finally, the court may make the determination if “the mother was not married at the time of conception.” MCL 722.1441(3)(c).[3]

If an alleged father files an action and proves by clear and convincing evidence that he is the child’s father, “the court may make a determination of paternity and enter an order of filiation as provided for under section 7 of the [P]aternity [A]ct,” MCL 722.717. MCL 722.1445. However, a court may refuse to enter an order affecting paternity if the court finds evidence that it would not be in the child’s best interests. MCL 722.1443(4).[1]

A judgment entered under the Revocation of Paternity Act “does not relieve a man from a support obligation … before the action was filed” nor does it “prevent a person from seeking relief under applicable court rules to vacate or set aside a judgment.” MCL 722.1443(3). The act “does not establish a basis for termination of adoption” nor does it “establish a basis for vacating a judgment establishing paternity of a child conceived under a surrogate parentage contract.” MCL 722.1443(8), (9). An alleged father convicted of criminal sexual conduct may not bring an action under the act pertaining to a child whose conception resulted from the criminal conduct. MCL 722.1443(14).[1]

If the court determines that the child was born out of wedlock under any of the above scenarios, the court must determine the child’s paternity or paternity must be established under the law of Michigan or another jurisdiction. MCL 722.1441.

If an alleged father files an action and proves by clear and convincing evidence that he is the child’s father, “the court may make a determination of paternity and enter an order of filiation as provided for under section 7 of the [P]aternity [A]ct,” MCL 722.717. MCL 722.1445.
In any action or motion under the act, the court must order the parties to participate in and pay for blood or genetic tests to assist the court in making the determination under the act. Though required, the results are not binding on the court. MCL 722.1443(5).

A court may refuse to enter an order affecting paternity if the court finds evidence that it would not be in the child’s best interests. MCL 722.1443(4). In making the best interest determination, the court may consider the following:
(a) Whether the presumed father is estopped from denying parentage because of his conduct.
(b) The length of time the presumed father was on notice that he might not be the child’s father.
(c) The facts surrounding the presumed father’s discovery that he might not be the child’s father.
(d) The nature of the relationship between the child and the presumed or alleged father.
(e) The age of the child.
(f) The harm that may result to the child.
(g) Other factors that may affect the equities arising from the disruption of the father-child relationship.
(h) Any other factor that the court determines appropriate to consider.
MCL 722.1443(4).

In its discretion, a court “may order a person who files an action or motion under th[e] act to post an amount of money with the court, obtain a surety, or provide other assurances that in the court’s determination will secure the costs of the action and attorney fees if the person does not prevail.” MCL 722.1443(11). The court may also, in its discretion, “order a nonprevailing party to pay the reasonable attorney fees and costs of a prevailing party.” Id. [3]

It may not be an easy finish to the journey of Mr. Quinn. In the Flint Courtroom of Judge John Gadola Quinn’s next court date is 09/10/12/12 at 1:30 p..

Currently this case 08-280313-DP is before JUDGE GADOLA



SOURCES
[1a]
http://www.michiganradio.org/post/paternity-tests

SOURCES

[1]
Michigan Family Law Benchbook ch 10 (ICLE 2d ed 2006), at http://www.icle.org/modules/books/chapter.aspx/?lib=family&book=2006553550&chapter=10
(last updated 08/10/2012).

[2]
Michigan Family Law ch 12 (Hon. Marilyn J. Kelly et al eds, ICLE 7th ed 2011), at http://www.icle.org/modules/books/chapter.aspx/?lib=family&book=2011553510&chapter=
12 (last updated 08/10/2012).

[3]
Michigan Family Law ch 21 (Hon. Marilyn J. Kelly et al eds, ICLE 7th ed 2011), at http://www.icle.org/modules/books/chapter.aspx/?lib=family&book=2011553510&chapter=21
(last updated 08/10/2012). 

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