In re Adoption of Sunderhaus

My initial preference was to join the position of Justice Resnick in dissent; however, in review of the case law in this state, I have concluded that the common law did not afford a remedy to compel a putative father to contribute to the support of his illegitimate offspring.5 Furthermore, the law as announced by this state’s intermediate appellate courts has been to the effect that a reputed father of an illegitimate child is not legally and/or financially responsible for the maintenance of the child, unless there is a statute which imposes such a duty.6

Historically, it has been recognized…