I just discovered I’m not my daughter’s biological father – what do I do?
DEAR DEIDRE: I HAVE just discovered I am not the father of the little girl I thought was mine, who I have been supporting with child maintenance and looking after every weekend. I am horrified.
Her mum, my ex, always swore she was my child and I am on the birth certificate as the father.
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I am 27 now, my ex is 26. She was always inclined to be secretive. Something she said one day made me curious so I had DNA tests done privately.
I would hate to lose contact with my daughter who, of course, looks on me as her dad.
My biggest fear is that her mother would stop me seeing her if she found out what I have done.
I don’t know what to do for fear of this turning into one great big row.
DEIDRE SAYS: Some of the DNA tests sold online are unreliable, so don’t turn all your lives upside down over a possibly dodgy test done without proper safeguards.
See gov.uk/get-dna-test for a list of accredited testing labs. You’d need the mum’s permission or a court order but do you really want to go there?
I’d say you are her father in every way that matters.
You can talk it all over with Families Need Fathers (fnf.org.uk, 0300 0300 363).
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