Lawmakers aim to change law that keeps biological fathers from their children

"I think about her every day from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed," said Daniel Quinn as he tried to hold back tears.

The Hartland Township man is talking about his daughter, 5-year-old Maeleigh.

"Her first words were 'Daddy.' I watched her first steps. I nursed her when she was sick. I brushed her hair. I was a part of it all."

Quinn says he was a part of it all for the first 2.5 years of his little girl's life, but hasn't seen her now for more than 3 years.

He says he is a victim of an old Michigan law put on the books before DNA testing.

Here's what happened:

Quinn says he fell for Maeleigh's mother while they worked together. Candace Beckwith was married, but separated from her husband. Beckwith then became pregnant with Quinn's daughter.

The couple moved in together and raised their daughter together for about two years.

Then Beckwith decided to reconcile with her husband. She left Quinn, and took their little girl with her.

As the two battled over custody in court, Quinn learned he had no standing, no right to his little girl. Under a Michigan law in place since the 1950's, the husband is given paternal rights to any children his wife has during their marriage. A biological father only has rights, if the married mother allows it.

"I missed a very important part of my little girl's life," said Quinn.

"In her (Maeleigh's) case, Three years ago, the law did what it needed to do," said Candace Beckwith, Maeleigh's mom.

She says the law allowed her to reunite with her husband and her other children. It also allowed her to leave Quinn, who she says she did not feel sufficiently provided for her and Maeleigh.

"He was not contributing to any of the bills," said Beckwith.

"My daughter is extremely happy, extremely healthy, very smart, and doesn't know about any of this. I would hate to turn her world upside down because it would crush her. How many of you know a stepdad who is a better dad than the real father to a child? That seems to be the norm in so many cases."

While Candace says her husband is the better father, Quinn says it is not possible. After all, Adam Beckwith is currently in an Ohio prison serving a three year sentence. He was convicted of drug trafficking. According to court documents he took Maeleigh with him while he sold drugs. He allegedly told police he believed this help him avoid police attention.

"The law as it is took my daughter from the only father she ever knew, and put her in the middle of a drug trafficking operation from state to state," said Quinn.

State lawmakers have heard Quinn's story.

Senator Steven Bieda sponsored a bill that would allow biological fathers to petition the court for parental rights, if a judge rules it is in the best interest of the child. Senator Bieda says now that DNA testing allows you to determine biological paternity, biological fathers should be considered.

The bill passed in the Senate with bi-partisan support. He expects it will make it through the House early next year.

"This is a case of a statute that needed to be updated to reflect changes in society today," said Senator Bieda.

Action News wants to know what you think of this bill.  Have you experienced a similar situation?  Do you think biological fathers should have a right to their children, if the children are born out of wedlock? Leave your comments and vote in our poll to let us know your thoughts.