Establishing The Paternity Of A Child: Why Is It So Important?
Determining the paternity of a child means more than monthly child support payments for the custodial parent. Whether or not the child in question has a father who is recognized legally as the father will make a major difference in the child’s upbringing. The presence of a father is not just important when the child is younger, but it is also important throughout the child’s entire life.
Paternity is not an implication that the child will always see his or her father on a consistent basis. Paternity means that the father will be recognized as the child’s father legally, and the father will, therefore, be financially responsible for the child. This also means that the father’s income can be accessed, as well as any federal benefits and medical benefits.
It is greatly important that the paternity of a child is established as soon as possible if there are any questions about who fathered the child.
Establishing Paternity Is Important
There are numerous reasons why establishing paternity is important. When a child’s paternity is established, the child will have a right to child support and possibly other benefits. If the father has a health insurance plan, the child may also be allowed to be covered under this plan.
We understand that paternity is not just about the financial benefits. Establishing the paternity of a child will have emotional benefits for all sides. When a man finds out who is indeed the legal father of a child, he can be granted time to spend with the child and he may even be allowed to make important decisions regarding the child if the court agrees that his decisions will be in the best interests of the child. It is important that children have relationships with their fathers and their mothers, and the establishment of paternity will give the father an opportunity to be a present father and not an absent father.
How Can Paternity Be Established?
There are many ways to have paternity established. If the woman is married when she gives birth to the child, people will generally assume the woman’s husband is the father. However, this can be rebutted if there is enough evidence. Even if the couple was divorced during the pregnancy, the now ex-husband will generally still be seen as the legal father. If there is not enough evidence, the husband or former husband will still be seen as the father.
If there is not enough evidence, the husband or former husband will still be seen as the father. Paternity can be established at the hospital, right after birth. Paternity can also be established by the court, the Department of Health, and the Child Support office.
Family law problems that include children can be difficult, but the difficulties increase when paternity has not been officially established. The paternity of the child means the father will be identified as eligible to receive all the rights a father is entitled to. This is especially important when divorce is the topic.
When paternity is not established and divorce proceedings have started, the child’s father may not be entitled to any parental rights, such as custody or visitation. The child can also be denied any child support payments or other benefits if no father has been identified.
When the paternity of a child is in question, the best way to determine paternity is after the child is born. It will be easier to establish paternity right after the birth because the mother and the child will be present. Are you trying to establish the paternity of a child? Do you want to dispute the paternity of a child? Contact us today.