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Q: Father demanding paternity test, no legal acknowledgment, seeking no-contact order.
My daughter just had a baby, and the father has refused to have any contact for the past 7 months before the baby was born. Now, he and his mother have come to my door, demanding a paternity test. He is not on the birth certificate, and no legal actions regarding visitation have been initiated. The father’s mother speaks derogatorily about the baby's mother and has only been the point of communication from their side. My daughter, concerned for the baby who has a malrotated kidney and requires close supervision, is considering a no-contact order, though the police indicated it's unlikely since there haven't been direct threats. How can my daughter ensure that they leave her and the baby alone?
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James L. Arrasmith
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A:
This situation is incredibly stressful, especially with a newborn who has medical needs and a mother trying to protect her peace. Since the father is not listed on the birth certificate and hasn’t filed any legal action, he currently has no legal rights to the child. Your daughter has the right to set boundaries and choose not to engage until a court requires otherwise. No one is obligated to answer the door or respond to demands made outside of a legal process.
If the uninvited visits continue, your daughter can keep a log of each one—date, time, what was said, and who was involved. This kind of documentation can help her request a protective or no-contact order if the behavior escalates or becomes harassment. While the police may not act without threats or violence, repeated uninvited visits could eventually rise to the level of harassment under the law.
Your daughter can also post a clear notice not to trespass, and if they return, she can contact law enforcement to file a formal complaint. If the father truly wants to establish rights, he’ll have to do so through the court by filing for paternity and custody, which would then be handled in a structured, supervised way. Until that happens, your daughter is allowed to create space and focus on her child’s health and well-being.
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