MAN FREED FROM 16 YEARS OF CHILD MAINTENANCE AFTER COURT RULES HE WAS NEVER THE LEGAL FATHER
- Falsely Accused Network
- Mar 14
- 2 min read
By Michael Thompson, Founder of Paternity Fraud UK
In a landmark ruling that highlights the complexities of paternity law in cases involving assisted reproduction, a man has finally been released from child maintenance obligations after 16 years of payments for twins he had no biological connection to.
The case, heard in London's Family Court by Mr Justice Cobb, centered around a man identified only as "Mr J" who had been paying £240 per month for twins conceived through IVF with donor sperm during a brief relationship with the children's mother.
Despite having no genetic link to the children and no contact with them for over 15 years, Mr J's name was placed on their birth certificates and he dutifully made maintenance payments throughout their childhood. It was only when illness forced his retirement that he sought legal clarification of his status.
This case exemplifies precisely why our organization, Paternity Fraud UK, continues to advocate for greater clarity and fairness in paternity law. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 is clear: a man with no biological connection to children conceived through IVF is only considered the legal father if the procedure takes place at a registered UK clinic. In this instance, the IVF was performed abroad, rendering Mr J's designation as the father legally invalid from the start.
The mother opposed the application, expressing concern about the psychological impact on the children of learning they "have no legal father in the world." However, Justice Cobb determined that establishing the truth about their legal parentage would ultimately benefit the twins, who are now 16 years old, academically successful, and already aware they were conceived through donor fertility treatment.
What's particularly notable in this case is that Mr J made no attempt to reclaim the thousands of pounds he had paid over 16 years. His application was simply to end the ongoing financial obligation he had fulfilled despite having no relationship with the children.
At Paternity Fraud UK, we see this as a significant step forward in recognizing that legal parenthood must be properly established according to existing laws. Too often, men find themselves trapped in financial obligations based on administrative errors or misunderstandings of complex fertility legislation.
This ruling sends a clear message that our courts are willing to examine the legal underpinnings of parentage, even after many years, and make determinations based on law rather than simply maintaining the status quo.
While each case must be judged on its individual circumstances, this decision represents an important acknowledgment that paternity is not merely about whose name appears on a birth certificate, but must be grounded in either biological reality or the specific legal frameworks established for assisted reproduction.
For men facing similar situations, this ruling offers hope that the legal system can recognize and rectify such errors, even after many years have passed.
If you've been affected by Paternity Fraud please email paternityfrauduk@gmail.com to arrange a free and confidential call.
Full story in the Daily Mail see here
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