Officially establishing paternity with the state is necessary if a man wants to assert his parental rights. Unmarried fathers sometimes have to execute paperwork with the mothers of their children or ask the courts to order genetic tests. Fathers who want a relationship with their children can establish paternity either by cooperating with the mother of their children or securing court intervention.
The entire family may benefit from a man officially establishing paternity. The man secures parental rights and must also fulfill parental responsibilities. He can spend regular time with his child and has an influence on their upbringing. The child benefits from having a relationship with their father and a clear understanding of their background. The mother may benefit because she may receive child support payments and respite while the father has parenting time.
Can mothers who want to establish paternity ask the courts for support?
Either parent can request testing
If a father has not voluntarily established paternity, a mother can ask the courts to order testing and establish his parental rule. Court orders can compel parents to undergo testing to validate their parentage.
Of course, simply establishing paternity officially does not guarantee that a parent steps up to play a more active role in the life of their child. However, paternity is a key element of securing child support if the mother of a child is not married to the father of the child.
The state can intervene
Occasionally, a child who does not have a father listed on their birth certificate becomes the recipient of various state benefit programs. Mothers who do not receive practical and financial support may turn to state programs.
Medical and financial benefits can help mothers provide a baseline standard of living for their children. There are also situations where mothers have medical emergencies, die or end up in state custody. Their children may end up in the care of a guardian or foster parent.
In such cases, the state may attempt to identify the father of the child to ensure that he fulfills his financial responsibilities. The Family Support Division or an adult acting as a guardian of a minor child can theoretically request genetic testing to legally establish paternity in cases where parents have not taken that step.
Learning more about the benefits of paternity and the process of establishing it can be beneficial for unmarried parents. Parents acknowledged by the state have parental rights and access to family court proceedings if necessary.
