A paternity action is a legal process to establish who is legally the father, especially when parents aren’t married or if there is a conflict.

This civil action can be started by the mother to gain child support from the alleged father or filed by the biological father to receive parental rights.

Unmarried parents

This determination is particularly essential for unmarried parents as it helps establish the following:

  • Child support
  • A father’s legal rights
  • The child’s eligibility to receive benefits through the father
  • The child’s access to health information from the father’s side

Paternity ensures that both legal parents’ rights and responsibilities are upheld. However, a separate legal process may be required to establish the specifics of any child support and custody agreements needed.

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