My husband found out he may have a child in Florida.We just got child support papers in the mail. The child is 13 and my husband didn't sign the birth certificate because he didn't know. He requested a DNA test. Why wait 13 years to tell someone? Anyone with any advise would be appreciated thanks.

He has done that right thing by asking for a DNA test. The mother may have gotten some form of public assistance which would require that she disclose the father and help to get child support. That is a possible reason that now 13 years later he is finding this out. I would not even want to speculate as to why she didn't tell him previously. Perhaps your husband might have insight into her motives.
If he is not found to be the father -this will just dissappear.
IF he is found to be the father, he will have to pay child support from the time the papers were filed (possible some back support if she asked for it but not the whole 13 years..I'm not quite sure how far it would go back in FL). He may aslo be asked to pay for insurance for the child and half of the medical including dental. IF he wanted to see the child or have any sort of visitation, he would have to file those papers seperately in the FL courts. Visitation would have to be done gradually as the child does not know him. Till the DNA comes back, he can not/should not request visitation.

My husband found out he may have a child in Florida.We just got child support papers in the mail. The child is 13 and my husband didn't sign the birth certificate because he didn't know. He requested a DNA test. Why wait 13 years to tell someone? Anyone with any advise would be appreciated thanks.
If he is found to be the bio father he can probably use the defense of "laches" to prevent retroactive support from being ordered. In Fl. retro support can be ordered for up to 2 years back. But, there is alot of case law concerning retro support when the mother has deliberatly waited to file and hidden the child from thier possible father.

Does your husband have an attorney? If not, he really needs to get at least a consult with one- the number for the bar referral service is 1-800-342-8011.

Thanks for the advice. He did talk to a lawyer but he said take it day by day. CSE here in Georgia said we would not have to pay for the last 13 years because he didnt know. If he is the father it will start 30 to 45 days after the court order. He is so confused.If he is the father he does want to see the child but he doesn't want to cause problems for the child .I will just stand beside him no matter what he decides to do

My husband and I have been dealing with Georgia, Florida, Alabama for the past few months. I just wanted to tell you two things to save some questions later. The Childsupport will all be based on the state that your husband lives in (Georgia). However setting up visitation and everything else has to be done threw Florida, because that is where the child resides. So if you have to get an attorney call the number xena gave you. :)