State Department of Human Services v. Webster

GODFREY, Justice.

Appellee Webster acknowledged paternity of a child born out of wedlock in July, 1974. Although appellee did not marry the child’s mother, he formally acknowledged paternity in order to legitimate the child for purposes of intestate succession. See 18 M.R.S.A. § 1003 (1964).

In May of 1977, appellant State of Maine brought a petition in Superior Court, alleging that the child was being supported by the State through the program for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and seeking to compel appellee to contribute to that support. In defense, appellee offered a…