united-states marriage children
In US, does marriage protect men from paternity fraud or make it more liable?
<p>Suppose I am a rich man who wants a biological heir. I find a woman that agrees to bear me a child. Should I get married? In what jurisdiction is getting married a good legal move?</p>

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<p>A book by Matt Ridley says that marriage laws are there to prevent paternity fraud.</p>

<p>If you are married and your wife has sex with another man, she is killed. Hence, she wouldn't do that. Hence, you can be sure that your wife's child is yours.</p>

<p>But now things are different.</p>

<p>If you are married, and your wife has sex with another man, you are still liable to pay child support for your wife's children.</p>

<p>If you are not married, then you are only liable if the child is really yours, say, via paternity tests.</p>

<p>So if a man wants to only support his biological children, do U.S. laws suggest that the only way to do this is to avoid marriage?</p>

<p>The exact laws are going to vary by state.  </p>

<p>According to Wisconsin laws <a href="http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/891.39" rel="nofollow noreferrer">891.39</a> and <a href="http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/891.41" rel="nofollow noreferrer">891.41</a>, marriage creates a rebuttable presumption of paternity.  If you happen to know who the real father is, you may be able to force them to get a genetic test, the results of which would disprove your paternity.</p>
