Cited by

Unlike our other cases cited by the respondent, see Watts v. Watts, 115 N.H. 186 (1975); McRae v. McRae, 115 N.H. 353 (1975), this case is not one where a presumed father seeks, years later, to disprove his own paternity so as to avoid paying child support.

In Watts v. Watts, 115 N.H. 186 (1975), for instance, we affirmed the denial of a divorcing husband’s request for blood tests to dispute the paternity of children of the marriage.

We have long held that “the establishment of paternity is ‘an essential prerequisite to imposing the obligation for child support.’ ” In the Matter of Haller & Mills, 150 N.H. 427, 429 (2003) (quoting Watts v. Watts, 115 N.H. 186, 188 (1975)).

We have long held that "the establishment of paternity is `an essential prerequisite to imposing the obligation for child support.'" In the Matter of Haller & Mills, 150 N.H. 427, 429, 839 A.2d 18 (2003) (quoting Watts v. Watts, 115 N.H. 186, 188, 337 A.2d 350 (1975)).

Indeed, we reached a similar result in Watts v. Watts, 115 N.H. 186 (1975).

At the outset, we note that the establishment of paternity is “an essential prerequisite to imposing the obligation for child support.” Watts v. Watts, 115 N.H. 186, 188 (1975); see also Opinion of the Justices, 131 N.H. 573, 576 (1989) (“To enforce the father’s obligation for a child born out of wedlock, however, paternity must first be determined.”).

RSA 522:5; RSA 458:23; Watts v. Watts, 115 N.H. 186, 188, 337 A.2d 350, 352 (1975); Sargent, 100 N.H. at 30, 118 A.2d at 597; Saunders, 84 N.H. at 416, 151 A. at 820-21.

Watts v. Watts, 115 N.H. 186, 188, 337 A.2d 350, 352 (1975); see RSA 168-A:2.

RSA ch. 546-A provides for the support of stepchildren and, in accordance with the policy of this State, places the obligation for such support on responsible persons and not on society as a whole.

We have previously stated that “[establishment of paternity is an essential prerequisite to imposing the obligation for child support.” Watts v. Watts, 115 N.H. 186, 188, 337 A.2d 350, 352 (1975).

McRae v. McRae, 115 N.H. 353, 341 A.2d 762 (1975); Watts v. Watts, 115 N.H. 186, 337 A.2d 350 (1975).

Whether or not the child was born in wedlock is also a consideration.

Watts v. Watts, 115 N.H. 186, 337 A.2d 350 (1975); State v. Sargent, 100 N.H. 29, 118 A.2d 596 (1955); Groulx v. Groulx, 98 N.H. 481, 103 A.2d 188 *32 (1954); Saunders v. Fredette, 84 N.H. 414, 151 A. 820 (1930).

To permit the husband to raise the question of paternity after an eight-year period of uninterrupted acquiescence, with several opportunities to raise the issue, would contravene the policy of this State’s law to protect the child and the spouse from the belated resort to scientific proof in an effort to escape parental responsibility.