Quinn v. Mouw-Quin

552 N.W.2d 843 (1996)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

H and W were married in 1984 and divorced in 1986. No children were born of this first marriage. On November 15, 1988, W gave birth to a daughter, Samantha. H is not the father of Samantha. The parties remarried in 1989 and two children were subsequently born during the second marriage. After the first divorce, when W became pregnant with Samantha, she asked H for help although he was not the father. H attended childbirth classes and supported W. Upon remarriage in 1989, H accepted Samantha as his own child. Samantha knows none of the circumstances of her heritage. H has cared for Samantha as a dependent, and she refers to H as 'Daddy,' and he is the only father she has ever known. The circuit court found that H and Samantha have established a parent-child relationship. H served W with a summons and a complaint for divorce in which he sought custody of all three children. Custody of the children was awarded to W subject to H's rights of reasonable visitation. The trial court found that it would be in the best interests of W's children for H to have visitation with Samantha. The circuit court also found that H should pay child support for Samantha as well as Jacob and Connor. This appeal followed.