Zadori v. Zadori

TAMILIA, Judge:

Thomas Zadori appeals from the November 30, 1993 and March 21, 1994 Orders1 addressing, inter alia, the paternity of the parties’ minor son and the appellant’s obligation to pay spousal support.2

The parties married on October 5, 1989 and on November 21, 1989, appellee gave birth to a baby boy. The parties separated on August 20, 1992 and on September 15, 1992, appellant filed for custody, fearing appellee would return with their son to her native Hungary. Wife, unbeknownst to appellant, filed a complaint for child support at this same time. After the support hearing conducted September 29, 1992, an interim Order for support and visitation was entered on October 23,1992. Exceptions taken by appellant were denied. On October 30, 1992, appellant petitioned for an Order directing the parties to submit to blood tests to establish the paternity of the child. The Domestic Relations Office suggested appellant’s request be denied based on his previously filed custody action identifying himself as the father. On December 11, 1992, appellant requested a stay with regard to the support Order and a trial on the issue of paternity. On February 18, 1993, a hearing was conducted with regard to these issues, wherein appellee admitted appellant was not the child’s father, and appellant testified concerning his relationship with the then four and one-half (4jé) year old child. Appellant’s requests were denied by Order dated April 19, 1993. Thereafter, an interim support Order was entered directing appellant to pay child and spousal support. Appel*195lant’s exceptions to this Order were denied by Order dated November 30, 1993, and an appeal to this Court was subsequently filed. On March 2, 1994, an Order was entered finding appellant was the father of the minor child and directing him to pay child support. This Order was amended, sua sponte, on March 21, 1994 to include contributions for various child care costs, and to negate that portion of its Opinion which found wife had failed to preserve for the master the issue of spousal support, and award appellee $17 per week spousal support. Appellant also appealed this Order.

Father first argues the trial court erred by denying his request for HLA (human leukocyte antigen) blood testing, and by refusing to provide him with a trial on the issue of paternity as is mandated by Pa.R.C.P. 1910.15(b). Appellant argues the child was born only three or four months after the parties began sexual relations, and appellee has readily admitted appellant is not the father of her child who was conceived while she was still living in Hungary.

A child born to a married woman is presumed to be a child of the marriage and of the woman’s husband. Everett v. Anglemeyer, 425 Pa.Super. 587, 625 A.2d 1252 (1993). This presumption of legitimacy can be overcome, however, by clear and convincing evidence husband had no access to wife during the relevant period. Freedman v. McCandless, 539 Pa. 584, 654 A.2d 529 (1995); John M. v. Paula T., 524 Pa. 306, 571 A.2d 1380 (1990). Here, not only did appellant have no access to wife during the time the child was most likely conceived, mother repeatedly admits appellant is not the biological father. Blood tests, if permitted, would merely confirm that upon which the parties have agreed: appellant is not the biological father of now five and one-half 0) year old Thomas. But as the trial court accurately points out, paternity and the concomitant duty to support may be established constructively. Chrzanowski v. Chrzanowski, 325 Pa.Super. 298, 472 A.2d 1128 (1984). A support Order need not be based on paternity alone, but may be premised on the “existence of a parental relationship giving rise to a duty to support.” Id. at 304, 472 A.2d at 1131. “Estoppel in paternity actions is *196merely the legal determination that because of a person’s conduct (e.g., holding out the child as his own, or supporting the child) that person, regardless of his true biological status, will not be permitted to deny parentage----” Freedman, supra, at 591, 592, 654 A.2d at 532-533. Paternity by estoppel may be established when a putative father marries the mother, holds the child out as his own and lists his name as the father on the birth certificate. See John M., supra, 524 Pa.Super. 306, 571 A.2d 1380; see also Matter of Montenegro, 365 Pa.Super. 98, 528 A.2d 1381 (1987).

In the matter before us, appellant knew the child was not his on the date he was born. In fact, appellant avers in his brief the full term child, also named Thomas, was bom only three months after the parties began sexual relations. Nevertheless, appellant agreed to amend the child’s birth certificate to list himself as the birth father and, despite appellant’s initial misgivings, the parties along with the child lived together as a family for almost three years after Thomas’ birth. During this time, appellant admittedly fed, clothed, housed and provided for the physical, medical and emotional needs of the child. When appellee unexpectedly left the marital residence, appellant waited only one week before filing for visitation and/or custody.

As stated above, a blood test would merely affirm the fact appellant is not the biological father of Thomas. Biology aside, because the record is replete with evidence establishing appellant did indeed hold the child out as his own for almost three years prior to separation, we agree with the trial court’s finding of paternity by estoppel. Since the requirements of the law to establish paternity, albeit not in biological sense, have been met, appellant is estopped from now denying paternity, and evidence of blood tests, even if conducted, would be inadmissible to disprove paternity for any purpose. See Matter of Montenegro, supra.

Appellant also contends the court erred by “issuing an amended Order on March 21, 1994 applying for spousal support when Maria Zadori failed to preserve the issue of spousal support by filing of exceptions to the recommended order of support which did not provide for spousal support, pursuant to *197PA. Rules of Civil Procedure 1910.12(e).” (Appellant’s brief at p. 13.) The Domestic Relations Officer’s October 8, 1992 proposed Order addressing appellee’s request for, inter alia, child and spousal support, directed appellant to pay child support and provide medical insurance for wife and child when available, was adopted as an interim Order on October 23, 1992. Husband filed exceptions to the interim Order while wife did not. Husband argues appellee’s failure to object at that time constituted a waiver of her right to now request spousal support.

In explaining its decision to consider and grant appellee’s request for spousal support, the trial court reasoned:

While it is acknowledged that MARIA ZADORI did not file her own exceptions, she was notified in writing by the Domestic Relations Section of the county court that the hearing before the master would be a de novo hearing.
For over a decade this court has afforded all litigants in support cases the wide latitude afforded by due process in [sic] have a de novo hearing before the permanent hearing officer or master. This court has intentionally chosen to allow individuals, who are frequently not represented by counsel, the opportunity to present all claims and make all arguments before the support master where, for the first time, a permanent record is made of the proceedings. This court has utilized over the years a hybrid support hearing procedure at the de novo hearing before the support officer which permits all issues, even those not raised by exception to the recommendation of the support officer, to be heard and considered. As such, the hybrid de facto hearing procedure does not cause the harsh result of waiver of issues not preserved by exception. This court has always utilized a concept that fundamental fairness and justice, and not strict adherence to procedural technicalities, must always be the goal of true justice. It was therefore, obligatory that this court enter an amended order on March 21, 1994, as was thus written.

(Slip Op., Muroski, J., 8/4/94, pp. 8-9.) We agree with the reasoning of the trial court and therefore find appellant’s argument to be devoid of merit.

*198Based on the foregoing reasons of law and fact, we affirm the Orders of November 30, 1993 and March 21, 1994.

Orders affirmed.

BECK, J., files a concurring opinion.

. Upon motion filed October 31, 1994, this Court has agreed to consolidate for the purpose of appeal No. 00106 Philadelphia, 1994 and No. 01755 Philadelphia, 1994.

. Appellee, Maria Zadori, has not filed a brief.