Your life can change when you have a child. You may experience love and joy like never before. As a father, you want to make sure that you can do everything you can for your child. In some cases, that may mean that you will want to establish paternity. The idea of a paternity test often has a negative connotation, but that isn’t always the case.
Establishing paternity can be extremely beneficial for your child.
If you and your spouse are married and have a child together, as a husband, you are automatically considered the legal father. This happens even if you are not the biological father of the child. If you and your spouse are not married, then you may not have legal rights regarding your child, even if you are listed on the birth certificate.
Why establish legal paternity?
- To make legal decisions. When you establish paternity you get rights to help make important legal and medical decisions for your child.
- Medical history access. You will be able to provide your own medical history, which can help your child if they were to become ill.
- Provide health insurance. You can add your child to your health care benefits if you establish paternity.
- Visitation rights. If you and the mother of your child are ever at odds, you can legally establish rights to see your child.
- Establish custody. If you want to gain custody of your child, you will want to have established legal paternity.
- Government benefits. If you want your child to receive any social security or financial benefits that you can offer them, establishing paternity can help make that possible.
How can you establish legal paternity?
- You and your spouse can sign an Acknowledgement of Paternity.
- You can take actions in court to help establish paternity.
- You can take a genetic test and then have an administrative order established.
