TRAVERSE CITY, MI (AP) -- Governor Rick Snyder signed bills last week 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.
7&4’s Brody O’Connell spoke with family law experts to learn more about the laws.
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