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The Court Understood That, Even Without Genetic Link, a Man Must Continue Paying Child Support for Establishing Socio-Affective Paternity with the Child, a Decision Based on the Principle of the Best Interest of the Child.
The Court of Goiás decided that a man who discovered he is not the biological father of a girl must continue paying child support. The case was judged by the 1st Family and Succession Court of Aparecida de Goiânia, which rejected the request to annul the civil registry and to be exempt from child support payments.
According to the ruling, the socio-affective bond between the man and the child has legal value equivalent to biological paternity. According to the portal gazeta do povo, even after the DNA test proved there was no genetic link, the evidence from the case showed that he maintained a continuous relationship of affection and responsibility with the girl, which established the so-called socio-affective paternity, consolidating the duty of support.
Socio-Affective Paternity Has Legal Force
The concept of socio-affective paternity is recognized by Brazilian legislation and by the superior courts.
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It establishes that those who raise, educate, and establish an emotional bond with the child assume legal obligations similar to those of a biological father.
The foundation is based on the constitutional principle of human dignity and on the best interest of the child, which prevails over the genetic bond.
In the case from Goiás, the man registered the child believing he was the biological father.
Even after discovering otherwise through a DNA test, he continued to play an active role in the girl’s life for several years.
The Court understood that breaking this emotional and financial bond would cause emotional harm to the child, who recognized him as a father figure.
Decision Reinforces Jurisprudence of the STJ
The understanding of the 1st Family Court follows the guidance of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), which for years has consolidated the legal validity of socio-affective paternity.
The court has ruled that affection, coexistence, and the intention to be a father produce legal effects as significant as blood ties.
In previous rulings, the STJ emphasized that paternity is not only biological but also built through daily interactions, and that, once established, it cannot be undone by a mere genetic test.
This interpretation aims to protect the child’s emotional bond and ensure the stability of their family structure.
Civil Responsibility and Duty of Support
With the maintenance of the civil registry, the man remains legally responsible for paying child support, as well as for other obligations arising from parenthood.
The amount should continue to be calculated based on the needs of the child and the economic capacity of the supporting party, as provided in the Civil Code and the Statute of Children and Adolescents (ECA).
Furthermore, the removal of the father’s name from the civil registry can only occur in exceptional situations, when the absence of an emotional bond and the total breakdown of the family relationship are proven.
In the case in question, the Court observed that the man’s behavior in maintaining contact and participating in the girl’s upbringing evidenced the opposite.
Social and Legal Impact of the Decision
Cases like this reinforce the importance of recognizing socio-affective paternity as a tool for protecting childhood.
The decision from Goiás reaffirms that parenthood is, above all, an act of responsibility and emotional bond, not just a result of a genetic test.
The trend of Brazilian courts is to expand the recognition of this type of paternity, ensuring that children have equal rights to those of biological children, including regarding support, inheritance, and civil name.
Do you agree with this decision from the Court of Goiás? Do you think it’s fair for the emotional bond to outweigh the biological one in cases of child support? Share your thoughts on the topic in the comments; we want to hear from those who have lived something similar in practice.
Se houvesse justiça de verdade essa mulher e o pai biológico deveriam reembolsar o valor gasto pelo enganado e ainda pagar danos morais.
Mas como tudo e um circo e carnaval o cara acaba sendo punido em dobro .
Isso vai acabar com relacionamentos , homens não vão confiar mais em mulheres e vice versa.
Sim , eu concordo com.a decisâo do tribunal.
Mas entendo a situaçâo da pessoa ;que foi enganda,ridicularizada… mas o vinculo emocional criado nâo de desfaz em uma audiência.
Para mim é um ato sobre humano, de superaçâo em benéficio de um propósito maior
Que “bem maior”? Sustentar o fruto da traição? É um absurdo uma decisão dessa. Essa palhaçada de socioafetividade compulsória deveria acabar. A mãe que lute com o psicológico do filho.
Entao pq vc nao assume o papel de pagar a divida, se acredita nisso, sua p-ta vagab-nda?
“Para mim é um ato sobre humano, de superaçâo em benéficio de um propósito maior”
Pqp. Nao eh possivel que tem gente que fala isso. Por causa de escoria igual voce que esse pais lixo nao vai pra frente, sua p-ranha do c-ralh-.
Um absurdo, o cara foi enganado e ainda por cima tem que pagar pensão para criança que não é dele????? Como assim? O pai biológico ou a mãe que compete está função ????
Se o homem não quer assumir o filho, é crime explorar a criatura 🤡🤡🤡🤡
Mano , o cara descobriu que não era pai e continuou com a criança , tem que se lascar mesmo , você leu toda a notícia , a partir do momento que ele descobriu ele deveria sair fora … Vacilou ele
Vai atrás do pai biológico
Entendo que o amor ao qual ele adquiriu por essa criança e ela por ele são irrevogaveis, mas obriga-lo a pagar uma pensão de forma integral é ridículo, tinha que pelo menos chamar ao processo o pai biológico e dividir com o pai afetivo as obrigações da criança.
É nosso ordenamento jurídico, imoral, mas legal.
Se não é pai, não tem obrigação nenhuma com a criança, já fez muito, pelo tempo que foi enganado, acho que teria receber com juros e correção os valores gasto.
A informação é que mesmo depois ele continuou mantendo contato com a criança, só depois por motivos que não foram citados ele resolve tirar o nome do registro e deixar de assumir a paternidade. Sendo assim, eu concordo com o resultado da justiça, era de ciência do mesmo a situação.
Queria ver se você fosse o homem, tendo que pagar pensão por um filho que não é seu.