I have been happily married for 6 years and have a 4 year old daughter and a baby on the way. One day, out of the blue, I received an order for paternity testing on me for a child that is 11 years old! I have no recollection of the mother, do not know her, or the grandmother who has custody of the child. I was shocked. I brought my picture ID into the clerks office for the mother to look at. Apparently she knows me, and now I have an appt for a DNA test. I think the grandmother/mother wants public assistance. How can they do this after almost 12 years? If I am the child's father, why didn't the mother say something to me right away? I can barely support my own family as it is, and if this child is mine, can they really get me for back support on a child I never knew about? My wife and I have a great marriage and this was both such a blow to us. My wife is very distraut. We don't know what to do as we have never had to deal with any legal issue of any nature. We can't afford an attorney, so if one was appointed to us.. would they be in our best interest? Also, do I have to have visitation rights for a son who is almost 12 that I never knew? I don't know if I am the father yet, but I am trying to make sense of the whole thing. Please help! I am so confused...

This is a civil issue and I don't believe you will get an attorney appointed, you will either afford one or do without one.

First you have to find out if you are the father or not, and if you are, it will only get worst from there, yes, they can make you pay back support, and if they are on welfare, the state can look to you to repay some of that. Plus current payments. With that said the state will look at your income and set the payments based on that, with no concern if you can pay your bills or not.

In Michigan, the Limitation on Retroactive Recovery (from date of filing of action) is 6 years.