Saying no in court, not just in conversation
If a paternity petition names you, the place to deny it is in court. Telling the other parent you are not the father does not stop the case, and failing to appear can lead to an order of filiation being entered by default, followed by a child support order. At the first appearance you can deny paternity and ask for genetic testing, which courts commonly order when parentage is genuinely disputed. A support order can reach back to when the case was filed, so delay tends to cost money rather than save it. If you are serving in the military or live in another state, say so early, because that affects how the case proceeds.
When testing may not settle it
Genetic results usually carry great weight, but New York courts can decline to order testing when doing so would harm a child who has come to rely on a man as a father. The doctrine works in both directions: it can stop a man who has acted as a father from later denying paternity, and it can stop a mother from denying the role of a man the child knows as a parent. A child born to a married mother is also presumed to be her spouse's child, which can complicate a denial. If you previously signed an acknowledgment of paternity, the room to challenge it narrows considerably once the initial rescission window has passed.
Facts we need early
In a first meeting we review the petition or any order already entered, when and how you were served, and whether you signed an acknowledgment or appear on the birth certificate. We ask about your relationship with the child over time, since that history can matter as much as biology. If an order was entered against you without your participation, we look at whether there is a basis to vacate it and how quickly to move. Bring any test results, communications with the other parent about the child, and records of money you have paid. We also talk about what you want if testing confirms you are the father, because the case often turns to custody and support next.
