[bombcar]

If it's fraud it's on the part of the mother (usually) - the state just wants a clean database to avoid complications; it doesn't actually care about truth.

It's similar to how the justice system doesn't really care about justice, it cares about detailed and systematic applications of the laws, which sometimes coincides.

[giantg2]

"the state just wants a clean database to avoid complications; it doesn't actually care about truth."

What it actually cares about is not having to pay CHIP, etc. Having a man who isn't the biological father paying for stuff means the state doesn't have to pay for services. They don't care at all beyond that.

[bombcar]

Most of these laws are ancient, from the era of inheritances and such - long before CHIP.