Should I Take a Paternity Test for My Exs Child Years Later? -

AITA for refusing to take a paternity test for my ex’s child years later, despite doubts and a sudden request for confirmation, leaving me torn between closure and avoiding involvement in a potentially life-altering situation?

In a recent Reddit post, a 34-year-old man shared his dilemma about refusing to take a paternity test for his ex-girlfriend’s child, years after their breakup. The man, let’s call him John, dated Sarah, who claimed he was the father of her child, but John had doubts due to the timing of their breakup and Sarah’s history of infidelity.

Despite expressing his concerns, John chose to trust Sarah’s word and did not pursue a paternity test at the time. Fast forward almost a decade, and Sarah reached out to John, requesting a paternity test to confirm if he is indeed the father.

Feeling shocked and betrayed by Sarah’s lack of honesty and integrity, John now grapples with the decision of whether to take the test or not. He has moved on, started his own family, and has no desire to disrupt his current life by getting involved in a child’s life who may or may not be his.

The Reddit thread is filled with diverse opinions on whether John is in the wrong for refusing the paternity test. Some users empathize with his position, understanding his reluctance to upend his life for a child he may not have a connection.

Others argue that the child deserves to know their biological father, emphasizing the importance of stepping up and taking responsibility if there’s a chance John is the father. The debate raises complex ethical and emotional considerations, urging John to weigh his feelings against the child’s right to clarity and closure.

Original Post

I (34M) dated a woman, Sarah, several years ago. During our relationship, Sarah got pregnant, but we broke up before the baby was born.

Sarah claimed the child was mine, but I had doubts due to the timing of our breakup and her history of infidelity. I expressed my doubts, and Sarah was hurt but insisted the child was mine.

Steven, a close friend of Sarah, once mentioned that he didn’t think Sarah’s baby was mine. He said Sarah had been with multiple men around the time she conceived.

Despite this, I chose to believe Sarah and did not pursue a paternity test at the time. Fast forward nearly nine years later, Sarah reached out to me, asking for a paternity test to confirm if I am the father.

I was shocked and upset that Sarah never confirmed the child’s paternity all those years ago. I feel betrayed by her lack of honesty and integrity.

I have no desire to be involved in the child’s life now. I’ve moved on, have my own family, and don’t want to disrupt my current life.

Sarah is adamant about confirming paternity for her child’s sake, but I’m struggling with taking the test. I’m torn between wanting closure and not wanting any involvement in a child’s life who may or may not be mine.

So AITA?