State ex rel. W.Va. DHHR on behalf of Laura F. M. v. Cline

In State ex rel. W.Va. DHHR on behalf of Laura F. M. v. Cline, 197 W. Va. 79, 475 S.E.2d 79 (1996), a paternity acknowledgment pursuant to W.Va. Code, 48A-6-6 1990 was completed by the mother and Mark Edward C., acknowledging that Mark Edward C. was the father of a recently born child. A short time thereafter, the mother filed a child support action against Mark Edward C., and the family law master refused to order blood tests at Mark Edward C.'s request. The circuit court overruled the family law master, and ordered that blood tests could be performed. This Court reversed the circuit court, holding that the Legislature had established that "the only way the father's acknowledgment of paternity can be revoked would be through a finding that it was obtained from him under fraud or duress," and that no such duress or fraud had been shown or alleged. 197 W. Va. at 83, 475 S.E.2d at 83.