Paternity-How do I find out if I’m the father of a child?

Paternity equates to fatherhood and must be legally established if the parents of a child are not married to one another.

Being the legal parent of a child means you have a right to know your child and contribute to their future. It is also important for the children to know their parents not only for the sake of having a relationship with them, but for knowing if they may have an inherited a predisposition for certain medical conditions. Children also have right to financial support from both of their parents along with Social Security benefits, insurance benefits, and other entitlements.

For those with doubts as to paternity, you may be able to pay for paternity genetic marker testing, the results of which are almost 100% accurate. Genetic marker tests compare different factors with like parts of the mother and the child. You, the child, and the mother will be scheduled for a test in or near the county where you reside and the results are sent to a lab for processing.

If you maintain that you are not the father after paternity genetic marker testing, you can go to court for a trial before a family court judge who will review the results of the genetic marker test and any other proof you and the mother can provide.

Even if you feel strongly that you are not the father, the judge can declare you to be so by default if you choose not to attend your court hearing. As a result, it is very important to attend all court proceedings.

You have a right to a paternity attorney if you are headed to family court, and the Law Office of Vivien I. Stark, P.C. can consult with you beforehand so you are informed of your rights and legal options.