False Paternity issue

[Duffster62]

I have just found out I'm the father of a 12 year old child,I'm 56 and recently married.Seems the mother assumed her estranged partner was the child father or wanted it to be.As hes no longer with the mother he did a paternity test and found out hes not the father.To cut a long story short hes now trying to sue me for to get his money back.I genuinely sympathise but no way do I have that sort of money and I'm worried I could be forced to sell my home.I had no knowledge of this child and it's a complete shock,what are my options,I'm in the UK.

[Amethyst]

Have you had a test to confirm that you are the child's biological father ?

What is this man actually suing you for ? How much ? Presumably costs of raising the child for the last twelve years - or has he limited it to what you may have been obliged to pay in child maintenance ? How far along the process is the claim ?

Was he on the child's birth certificate as father ( so accepted parental responsibility) and was he married to the mother (and did they marry before or after the birth of the child ?)

Also has he taken action against the mother ?

[Duffster62]

Thank you for the response.The mother has three other children with the ex so presumably is in no position to defund any back payments.He is on the childs birth certificate,and I have no idea he has progressed legally but has told me through the mother that he will sue me to get the money back.The child is definitely mine.

[ostell]

The child is definitely mine.

You've done the DNA test then?
*

[Duffster62]

Yes I have