Benefits Of Establishing Paternity
Establishing paternity can be beneficial when a child is born out of wedlock. Establishing paternity connects a man as the legal father to their child. You may consider establishing paternity for any of the following reasons:
Child custody and visitation rights: Your child will likely benefit from spending time with their father. A father with a child born out of wedlock does not have any legal rights to see them. You may wish to prove paternity to establish child custody and visitation rights.
Child support: Raising a child is expensive and you may need financial support down the road. Child support is not automatically required from the father when a child is born out of wedlock. Either the father must be listed on the birth certificate, or you must legally prove paternity to be awarded child support.
Government benefits: Establishing paternity can provide economic benefits such as Social Security, health insurance and veteran benefits.
Medical history: Diseases are often hereditary. Paternity can give your child access to learn about medical issues in the family that may not appear until later in life. Your child could benefit from preventing or detecting diseases when they are older.
Inheritance: You may not need to consider passing down an inheritance anytime soon, but paternity can ensure that your child has the right to inherit assets or property when the father passes away some day.
How You Can Prove Paternity
Paternity can be proven voluntarily when the father and mother sign a declaration of acknowledgment of paternity. We can assist you with finding the correct documentation and facilitating this process. If either party refuses to sign the form, then paternity can be proven through the court.
Proving paternity will require proof of a sexual relationship with the father and further documentation. We will help you gather everything you need and will represent you in all court hearings. We can also advocate for DNA testing to prove the biological connection between child and father.
Contact A Legitimation Attorney To Learn More
Contact Whitney D. Mauk, P.C., to schedule a personal appointment. She can answer all of your paternity questions. Reach a lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia, by calling 470-237-5520, or fill out our online contact form.
