It can be difficult to navigate paternity issues in Michigan. These can come from various perspectives and all are complex. For example, in some cases, there is a lack of certainty as to who the biological father of a child is and child support, visitation rights and more hang in the balance of the testing. In other cases, the man who the mother says is the biological father denies paternity. The man who believes he is the father might want to see the child, but the mother is denying that request. With these or any other situations related to paternity, it is imperative to have legal assistance.

There are many reasons why it is important to establish paternity. For the father to have a relationship with the child, it must first be proven that he is the biological father. If the mother wants to receive child support from the man denying paternity, it must be proven that the man is the child’s biological father, so the next steps can be taken.

Understanding how to establish paternity is a critical part of the process. Should there be a DNA test, it is relatively easy to determine who the biological father is. It is important to remember, however, that parental rights will not be automatically granted simply because there was a DNA test that shows a man to be the biological father. It is necessary to have a court order to establish parental rights. The father seeking fathers’ rights can work with the mother to establish paternity simply by singing the Affidavit of Parentage. Still, such matters as visitation rights, child custody and child support need to be established by the court.

Whether it is a contentious disagreement between the parties or there is a relatively amicable case in which the parents or potential parents just want to be certain who the biological father is, it is wise to have legal advice from the start. Contacting a law firm that is extensively experienced in family cases, fathers’ rights, paternity actions and more can be of assistance.