Paternity dispute - advice needed

hitherebecky

My partner has received a letter from Child Maintenance Services here in Northern Ireland. The letter states he has been named as the parent of a child of his ex girlfriend.
He is well aware there is a CHANCE that he is the father of this child and if that is the case then he is more than willing to pay the maintenance costs for the child.
However CMS have stated HE is responsible for paying the test fee, which is around £250.
Wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and if there is a way around him paying the fee.
We believe his ex should be responsible for proving that he IS the father and not the other way round, as she not only cheated on him for the last month of the relationship, therefore giving reason for the doubt, but she also posted on facebook stating that the father of the child was her partner (the one she cheated with)
Can anyone give some advice on this?

PasturesNew

£250 is a small price to pay for the knowledge.... if "yes" it's a drop in the ocean of what's to come ... if "no" he's nailed it soonest so can get on with his life ... and have the deep joy of posting the results on Facebook

Somebody has to pay .... him, or her .... and they can argue the toss forever .... or just do it.

hitherebecky

It's not necessarily the amount, it was more advice from someone who's been in the situation because of the principal.
We're doing what we can to see where we can get the funds from because we'd rather it's just sorted ASAP. But the advice on whether there's anyway around this on our (his) part would have been helpful

Sambella

It seems that the CMS can order him to pay and if he is not the parent he will be refunded

https://www.gov.uk/get-dna-test

hitherebecky

yeah that seems to be the only information we can get.

The other thing we're curious about is if SHE refuses the test after he says he wants one, is he then 'off the hook' for lack of a better phrase.

Sambella

I don't know for sure but as she brought the claim I would imagine if she doesn't follow through then the case may well be closed.

clairec79

I believe that if the test shows he is not the father they will refund the cost of the test (they used to anyway)

clearingout

How can she prove he is the father without the DNA test?

Do not mess the CSA around on this issue. Meet their deadlines. If you don't you will end up paying for the child and having to persuade a judge to allow a DNA test. Far easier to get it over with.

clairec79

Just a thought - depending on how long ago this child was born it may be that she thought it was the new partners (hence the post on facebook) but she may have had a DNA test done and found out that he isn't (ergo he is your partner's)