Finding the legal paternity of a child can be difficult to do if the man that the mother claims is the father decides not to acknowledge paternity. If the man does not acknowledge paternity, then he will not have custody rights, but at the same time, he will not be liable for child support payments.

In what circumstances is paternity automatically assumed?

There are many circumstances in which the man is automatically presumed to be the father in the eyes of the law. This is most often when the man is married to the mother of the child at the time of birth, or when he marries the mother after birth and puts his name on the birth certificate.

How can paternity be established when the man refuses to acknowledge paternity?

All children deserve to have a supportive mother and father that supports them and will do everything in their power to protect and love them. Many women, upon failing to resolve the paternity issues in writing with the man that they say is the father, may decide to bring about a paternity suit. When this happens, a judge can make an order for a DNA test to be conducted. This will determine the paternity and decide whether the alleged father had financial responsibility or visitation rights in regard to the child.

Establishing paternity, not least for the purposes of gaining child support payments, can be a difficult task. However, the courts always want the best for the child involved and therefore will do their best to make it possible for the child to be supported.

Source: FindLaw, “Paternity Acknowledgement,” accessed Oct. 27, 2017