{"id":351957,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:42","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/paternity\/legal-significance-of-paternity.html"},"modified":"2023-06-07T10:19:54","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T15:19:54","slug":"legal-significance-of-paternity","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/paternity\/legal-significance-of-paternity.html","title":{"rendered":"Legal Significance of Paternity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Legal Significance of Paternity<\/h1>\n
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\n By John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Joseph Fawbush, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\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

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\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

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Paternity is the establishment of the identity of a child’s legal father.  Paternity ensures the father’s rights and responsibilities towards his child.  He can petition the court for custody, child support or challenge an adoption. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

In most circumstances, when a married couple has a child, there is a legal presumption that the husband is the father of the child. When an unmarried woman has a child, there is no presumption of paternity and further action must be taken to establish paternity.
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With unmarried parents, the parties can voluntarily sign an acknowledgment of paternity affidavit to establish paternity. A man who signs an acknowledgment of paternity affidavit may not be the biological father of the child. Once the acknowledgment is finalized and filed, however, he has become the legal father. Unmarried parents can also file a paternity action to establish paternity. This latter method most often requires a DNA test.<\/p>\r\n

States recognize many ways for paternity establishment<\/a>. Read on to learn more about the processes for establishing paternity and the legal significance of paternity for parents and children.<\/p>\r\n

Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity<\/h2>\r\n

Paternity can be voluntarily assumed in a variety of circumstances, such as when:<\/p>\r\n