Illinois basketball fans may be interested in the custody battle that one player is facing in a New York court. He is seeking sole custody of a 2-month-old girl should a post-natal paternity test show that he is the biological father.
Paul George met the child’s mother in Florida, and the child was born on May 1 of this year. A paternity test given while the child was still in the womb reportedly showed with 99.9 percent certainty that George was the father. George, however, claims that the test may be inaccurate and is seeking the new paternity test to confirm the results.
In arguing for sole custody, George claims that he has the financial and other resources to raise the child on his own, despite his work-related traveling schedule. He argues that the child’s mother is not fit to care for the child properly due to her unemployment. The mother, however, says that the unemployment is strictly due to the need to care for the child. She currently lives with her child in her family’s home in Queens, New York. George is seeking to have the trial moved to Florida. In the event that George is not awarded physical custody of the child, he is requesting that his child support payments be below the amount required by Florida guidelines.
Paternity issues can be complicated and may require the assistance of an attorney with experience in family law matters. Whether arguing for custody or disputing child support issues, the attorney may be able to represent the party in settlement negotiations or in front of the judge.
Source: Indy Star, “Pacers’ Paul George seeks sole custody of child“, June 30, 2014
