At the Law Offices of Amy M. Montes, we handle a variety of family law matters that may have a huge impact on your life. One of these is paternity, and acknowledging it so that parents can have rights to a child in their life, as well as receive support in situations where it is necessary and beneficial for a child. There are many ways that a father shows paternity of a child.
- If the man is married to the woman at the time the child is born, then the law assumes that he is the father of the child and his name will be put on the birth certificate.
- If unmarried, both parents sign a form that admits a father’s paternity, known as an “affidavit of parentage.”
- DNA testing can be done, which is a very reliable process that shows that the biological father is who he says he is. Sometimes the parents decide to opt into this process, and other times it becomes court-ordered.
Child Support for a Child That is Not Yours
Unfortunately, no situation is perfect when it comes to parental rights. This means that, sometimes, a father will find out many months or years after assuming parentage that he is not actually the biological father of a child. This can cause feelings of hurt and resentment for a father who believed that they were the father of a child in their life. This becomes an especially complicated process if a father has been paying child support for this child for years, even though he or she is not biologically theirs. So what can be done?
Unfortunately, every year fathers acknowledge paternity of a child that isn’t theirs. Sometimes the mother isn’t even sure on these matters, which can become a huge issue if the relationship ends down the road. Unfortunately, many fathers also find that, even though they have been paying child support for a child that is not theirs, once a judgment of paternity of issued into the court and a child support order has been established, there is usually no turning back.
Anybody who is unsure about the paternity of a child to any extent should seek the help of an attorney to look into these important matters. We understand that paternity is so important to your case and relationship with a child in your life. Let us help you every step of the way in terms of your case.
