Panama has enacted a new law specifically targeting paternity fraud, establishing criminal penalties for intentionally deceiving a man into believing he is the biological father of a child.
Law 535 of June 18, 2026, titled “Que sanciona el fraude de paternidad en la República de Panamá,” was published in Panama’s Official Gazette on June 19, 2026. The legislation says its purpose is to protect biological truth, good faith and legal certainty while also recognizing the best interests of children and adolescents.
What is considered paternity fraud?
Under the new law, paternity fraud involves intentional conduct in which a person induces a man to recognize a child who is not biologically his, conceals or falsifies information concerning the child's true biological paternity, or deliberately maintains the deception in a way that causes moral or financial harm.The key element is intentional deception. The legislation therefore goes beyond simply discovering through a DNA test that a man is not a child's biological father.
Prison sentences of two to five years
The legislation adds paternity fraud to Panama's criminal framework. According to the National Assembly's description of the measure, the offense carries a sentence of two to five years in prison, along with a fine of 100 to 500 day-fines.Penalties may be increased by between one-third and one-half when aggravating circumstances are present. These include cases in which the deception continues for more than five years, two or more children are affected, or the fraud has repeatedly resulted in an economic benefit.
DNA testing becomes central to these cases
Law 535 also establishes a special procedure for alleged paternity fraud.When such a case reaches court, the judge is directed to order scientific DNA testing or a non-invasive prenatal paternity test. An unjustified refusal to undergo the test can be treated as serious evidence against the person refusing it.
The legislation also makes an important change regarding time limits. When paternity was obtained through fraud or deception, an action challenging that paternity is not subject to a statute of limitations.
What happens when fraud is proven?
If a court determines that paternity fraud occurred, the law provides for the fraudulent parent-child affiliation to be canceled in the Civil Registry.The affected man is then released from future legal obligations resulting from the fraudulent paternity. At the same time, the law specifically preserves the child's right to pursue recognition of his or her actual biological parentage.
The law additionally allows an affected man to pursue an action against the biological father in circumstances where the biological father knew he was the father and allowed the fraud to continue.
Why Panama changed the law
During debate on the legislation, Panama's National Assembly said the country previously lacked a specific and systematic legal framework directly addressing paternity fraud. The proposal originated as Bill No. 510 before becoming Law 535.The legislation represents a notable shift because intentional deception over biological paternity can now have consequences extending beyond a traditional family-law dispute. Depending on the facts of a case, it can result in criminal prosecution, imprisonment, financial penalties and changes to the legal recognition of paternity.
At the same time, the law maintains protections concerning the child's right to establish their true biological parentage.
Panama’s new approach is likely to generate discussion beyond the country about how legal systems should balance biological parentage, intentional deception, financial responsibility and the rights and welfare of children.
What do you think? Should other countries adopt laws specifically criminalizing intentional paternity fraud?