Woman sues married chairman over twins' paternity: two courts rule he's the father, but the kids still can't get registered

[Gossip / relationships] On the morning of Oct 17, 2026, "Woman sues married company chairman with twins' DNA report" hit #2 on Weibo's hot search and entered Baidu's realtime list. It traces to an Oct 16 report by Huashang Daily's Dafeng News. This recap sticks to the reported facts; both names below are the pseudonyms the report used.

What happened A 43-year-old divorced woman in Jiangsu, "Yuan Yuan", met "Zhang Bo" in Shanghai in November 2021 and they began dating. She says she later learned from his staff that he was married. In January 2024 she gave birth to boy-girl twins; the birth certificates list Zhang as the father. Zhang denied paternity and paid no support, so she commissioned a DNA test from a Suzhou firm, which supported him being the biological father. Reporters confirmed via the Qichacha business registry that Zhang is the legal representative and chairman of a Jiangsu company.

What the courts ruled Yuan sued in January 2025. Zhang argued the children were conceived by IVF, citing a 2022 fertility-assistance contract she had signed, and refused a court-ordered DNA test. In May 2025 the trial court found her evidence met the "high probability" standard and, since he offered no contrary proof and refused testing, confirmed paternity. On appeal Zhang himself asked for a test, but didn't pay the fee, so the Suzhou University forensic center returned the case. In July 2026 the Nantong Intermediate Court upheld the ruling, adding that the extramarital relationship "violated public order and good morals."

Where it's stuck now The twins are nearly 3. Yuan wants to register their household registration (hukou) under her in Nanjing, but police say the father must appear in person. She says Zhang won't answer calls and has blocked her on WeChat. Without hukou the children can't get medical insurance, and kindergarten enrollment is in doubt.

His side Zhang told the reporter he told her from the start he wasn't single and tried several times to end things. On the registration issue he said whether the children are related to him "still hasn't been sorted out, so I can't take a position." He said he still has the right to seek a retrial but declined to say whether he has.

The legal point Under Article 39 of China's Supreme People's Court interpretation (I) on the Civil Code's marriage and family book, if a parent who sues to confirm paternity offers the necessary evidence and the other side has no contrary proof yet refuses a DNA test, the court may rule for the party seeking confirmation. Both courts applied that here.

Sources: Dafeng News / Huashang Daily, Oct 16, 2026: https://m.163.com/dy/article/L9CTSPDS05561G0D.html ; ifeng: https://feng.ifeng.com/c/8xHMlSF57g9 ; New Yellow River: https://www.jinantimes.com.cn/news-216-5332843.html