On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Friday, October 25, 2013.
Child support, child custody and father’s rights: These are just three of the family law categories that an Illinois father can learn from the recent tabloids that reality TV star Pauly D fathered a child he has never met. While these Pauly D stories — whose real name is Paul DelVecchio — are still ripe with gossip, the underlying issues are ones many men have found themselves faced with before.
According to news reports, DelVecchio had a one-night stand with a woman. She gave birth to a daughter in May and claims DelVecchio is the father. At this point, the reality TV star does not appear to be denying the allegations and is even looking forward to his role as a father.
However, at this point, there is no word on whether there has even been a DNA paternity test to prove he is the father. There is also nothing granting DelVecchio parental rights. And, with both parents already putting the other in the negative public light, one has to wonder what kind of a custody battle lays ahead.
At this point, the mother is supposedly demanding child support, while DelVecchio is demanding some custody.
For men in Illinois in similar situations, there are many lessons to be learned here, with the first being that an unwed father will want to file a paternity action as soon as he hears he is the father of a child. This paternity action may be the first step in securing rights as a father.
Even in cases where a father is on the birth certificate, one should not take this to mean rights have been established. Rather, an Illinois father should work with an attorney in order to go through the legal channels to set up things like child support and child custody.
Source: Los Angeles Times, “Pauly D’s baby-mama drama,” Nardine Saad, Oct. 24, 2013
