Paternity

Paternity is the legal establishment of who is the father of a child. A father's identity is much more difficult to determine than that of a mother of the child. Establishing paternity can be a tricky issue as it does not end with just identifying who the father of the child is. It has much longer effects on both the father and the child. Paternity may be an important factor in cases involving: - child support - adoption - inheritance - custody and visitation - health care and other issues If you have some doubts that the child is yours, you can always have an option to take a DNA test. In a DNA test, the genetic material of the child is compared against the man’s DNA. You can have faith on DNA testing as it has an accuracy rate of greater than 99%. You should know that there is a legal classification of fathers: - “Acknowledged Father” is the biological father of a child born to unmarried parents who admits that he is the father of the child. - “Presumed Father” is the man who either: a. was married or attempted to marry the mother when the child was either born or conceived; or b. married the mother after the birth of the child and agreed to have his name put on the birth certificate; or c. openly holds the child out as his own. - “Equitable Father” is neither the biological nor adoptive father, but who has a close “father-child” relationship with the child which is encouraged by the biological parents. NOTE: Not all states recognize equitable fathers, so be sure to investigate your state's laws and contact a qualified attorney in your state who specializes in paternity matters. - “Unwed Father” is a man who impregnates a woman but does not marry her. When faced with establishing Paternity it would be wise to consult an experienced family attorney as Paternity issues can be really complicated. Don't worry about that as you have Legal Bistro to help you. We invite you to visit http://www.legalbistro.com. Find out how to get your Paternity case on the right track from the start – contact out best Family attorneys experienced in Family Law issues!