Gov. Signs Bills To Extend Biological Dads' Rights

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Gov. Rick Snyder has signed bills that give biological fathers some rights to their children, even if the mothers were married to other men at the time of a child's birth.

The previous 1956 law presumed that a woman's husband is the father of her children, making the husband responsible for their support and denying parental rights to the biological father.

Lawmakers recently passed four bills extending rights to biological fathers.

In a statement Tuesday, Snyder said "children thrive with parental involvement" and said the legislation promotes increased involvement by making it easier to recognize biological fathers.

The legislation provides for court-ordered DNA testing and gives biological fathers in some situations a chance for legal rights over their children.

One person that's sure to be happy about his new rights is Daniel Quinn of Hartland. Before Snyder signed the bills, Quinn said the state's paternity act was keeping him from his 6-year-old daughter, Maeleigh. Read about his struggle, here.

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