Legitimation & Paternity
When an unmarried couple has a child, the father's rights may not be legally established until a legitimation order is issued. Paternity is the means by which a party can be required to take a genetic test to determine if he is the father. A child support order can then be issued if paternity is established. Legitimation is a means by which the father can establish his legal rights to a child as if the parties were married when the child was born. Often, the court must issue a detailed custody and child support order as part of a legitimation proceeding.
FAQs
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It may be necessary for you to file an Action for Paternity requiring that the child's father take a paternity test and begin paying child support.
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You must establish your relationship with the child before you can seek custody. For fathers, this is typically done through legitimation including paternity testing.
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Yes, both parties can express their agreement involving paternity in a case and formal testing may not be required.