Paternity is the legal acknowledgment of a parental relationship between a father and his child. A child born to a wife during a marriage is legally presumed to be the husband's child, but this presumption can be rebutted with evidence to the contrary. A determination of paternity for putative fathers can be established through a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, a court petition, or estoppel over time. Scientific evidence, such as blood and DNA tests, is used to establish or deny parentage of a child in paternity suits. Once paternity is established, a child is entitled to the legal rights of a child born within a marriage, including support from both parents, medical and life insurance coverage, and inheritance protection.

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Paternity Articles

State Specific Resources

-   Divorce, Child Custody and Support in Your State -   State Child Support Service/ Enforcement Websites

-   State Domestic Relations and Family Codes Websites -   State Vital Records Websites

Articles

-   Sharing Custody -   Child Support Overview

-   Your Rights as a Noncustodial Parent -   Negotiating Child Custody

-   Child Custody and Child Visitation: Terms To Know -   The Uniform Parentage Act of 2002

-   Examples of Visitation Schedules -   Paternity

-   Safe-Haven Laws Help Protect Newborns -   Paternity Leave and FMLA

-   Who's Your Daddy? Proving Paternity

Paternity FAQs

-   Divorce: Modifying Custody FAQ -   Divorce: Enforcing Custody Rights FAQ

-   Divorce: Child Custody FAQ -   Divorce: Calculating Child Support FAQ

-   Divorce: Modifying Child Support FAQs -   Divorce: Establishing Child Support FAQ

-   Divorce: Paying and Collecting Child Support FAQ

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-   Last Will & Testament -   Legal Name Change

-   Premarital Agreement -   Residential Quit Claim Deed

-   Marriage Certificate Request Letter -   Demand for Alimony Payment

-   Name Change Notification Letter -   Demand for Child Support Payment

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-   TX Family Law/Divorce -   PA Family Law/Divorce

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Related Topics on Lawyers.comsm

-   Family Law -   Child Custody

-   Child Support -   Divorce

-   Visitation Rights

Paternity Lawyers for Select Cities

- Atlanta Paternity Lawyers - Boston Paternity Lawyers - Chicago Paternity Lawyers - Dallas Paternity Lawyers - Los Angeles Paternity Lawyers - Miami Paternity Lawyers - New York Paternity Lawyers - Philadelphia Paternity Lawyers - San Francisco Paternity Lawyers - San Diego Paternity Lawyers

Ask a Lawyer - Family Law questions answered by leading lawyers I have two kids and the father of my kids have a child with someone else. He pays her close to $400 support also would they lower her amount and would they take into consideration how much she makes, I make, and he makes and re calculate how much she would get and I would get? Also just a estimate on about how much you think we each would get would be very helpful. What happens to my child support obligation if I return to full time college student status? My obli I live in Tennessee, my kids live in Florida and the obligation is set through the courts in Florida Can I move out of my parent''s house if I am 18 even though I am not graduating until May. Greetings. How can I go about to change my name? I''m a US citizen residing in the UAE. Can I do so i lost my house in divorce, name is no longer on it but still on loan, ex wife is 5 month behind on view more...