My daughter is 26 years old and she has never met her father. Well, after years of researching and about $10,000 we have located him (he is Nigerian and was in and out of the country). She called him on the phone and he basically told her he wanted nothing to do with her. Well, he has never paid child support or any thing to her. I do not want anything from him other than to accept her and acknowledge her as his child... or give a DNA test.

I know she is too old for any benefits but is there a way for me to legally have him take a DNA test for her, even though he has rights... what about her rights as to knowing where she came from? And if he continued to deny her could I turn this family situation into a civil situation?

You cannot force someone to take a DNA test. But if you get something of his that contains his DNA (cigarette butt, brush, etc) you can have it tested. As far as knowing who her father is, why can't her mother provide her with that info. And if you don't want anything from this guy, why would you make this a civil case.

I'm thinking your daughter might need information from him for future medical situations or problems?

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Originally Posted by laconya601

what about her rights as to knowing where she came from?

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Um where did you get the idea she has any such rights. The only thing she has is a NEED for medical history information. But I don't believe that is a right and I don't believe there is anything you can do to force this man to have any sort of relationship or provide any info. If you approach him that she is just looking for a medical history, he might comply.

No, normally unless there is a matter of paternity and child support for a minor child ( in most states a few state even have restrictions on that)

But normally I know of no law that allows for DNA tests to prove paternity for adult children, expect when the father dies and there is an issue of being part of the estate.

I am not sure of what you expected, had he wanted to be part of the child's life he would have during the last 26 years.