Paternity Fraud Now a Crime in Panama with Up to 5 Years in Prison

Panama has officially criminalized paternity fraud, establishing penalties of up to five years in prison for deceiving men into recognizing a child that is not biologically theirs. The newly sanctioned Law 535 of 2026 aims to uphold the right to biological truth and ensure legal certainty.

The legislation defines paternity fraud as any deceitful conduct intended to induce a man to acknowledge a child who is not his biological offspring. It also covers the concealment or alteration of information related to true paternity, leading to moral or patrimonial damages. The law mandates that suspected cases of fraud may involve scientific DNA testing or non-invasive prenatal paternity tests.

Furthermore, the law stipulates that an unjustified refusal to undergo such tests will be considered strong evidence against the opposing party. If a court confirms paternity fraud, the civil registry will cancel the established parentage, and future legal obligations stemming from the false relationship will cease. The child's right to establish their true biological lineage will be preserved.

Penalties range from two to five years in prison and fines of $100 to $500 days-multa for those who induce recognition of a non-biological child or alter paternity information causing harm. These penalties can increase if the fraud persists for over five years, involves multiple children, or results in repeated financial gain. Importantly, the law exempts individuals from criminal liability if they acknowledge a child as their own knowingly, provided the recognition is made freely, expressly, and informedly, without deceit or fraudulent inducement.