{"id":351944,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:10","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/paternity.html"},"modified":"2025-01-29T17:46:00","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T22:46:00","slug":"paternity","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/paternity.html","title":{"rendered":"Paternity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n Paternity\n <\/h1>\n \n Establishing paternity is crucial for various legal matters including child support, custody, and inheritance rights. It can be affirmed voluntarily or involuntarily by court order, often with genetic testing. This recognition impacts parental rights, financial responsibilities, and the child’s entitlement to benefits.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\n By John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Joseph Fawbush, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Paternity is the status of being a father, either biologically or as the legal status of a relationship as a father to a child. Most states today refer to paternity as the legal establishment<\/a> of the identity of the father of a child. States may use the term "biological father of a child" or "natural" father of the child. In the end, paternity tells us the legal father of a child.<\/p>\n

Not every family begins in the traditional way. There are times when we need to identify a child’s biological father<\/a>. Paternity establishment is a major factor in cases involving:<\/p>\n