Swedish paternity suit to establish father

A unique paternity suit is being brought in the little town of Haparanda on the border between Sweden and Finland later this autumn. The question the court there will have to determine is: Can a man deny paternity of a child if his wife's pregnancy was caused by artificial insemination?

A married couple in Haparanda who could not have children for medical reasons decided on artificial insemination. Medical tests were started but in the meantime the husband regretted his decision and asked his wife to abandon the idea.

Instead she went ahead and became pregnant.

Now that the couple have divorced, the former husband claims he is not the legal father of the child, now two years old, and should not therefore be liable for maintenance contributions.