In the legal world, a paternity suit is a legal action taken when paternity of a child is disputed. In this type of case, the court will order a paternity test to be taken and used to determine the biological father of a child in question. If the paternity test shows that the man in question cannot be the biological father, he will not be legally obligated to provide child support or other related support for the child.
These days, paternity suits have advanced to include other issues related to fatherhood such as the rights of the father to see the child, visitation rights, and even the naming of the child. Paternity suits often are brought by mothers who need child support from the father as well as by fathers seeking to establish their legal rights.
Common Reasons Behind Paternity Suits
A paternity suit may be necessary for a number of reasons. Some common reasons that paternity suits are filed include determining the father of the child for child custody or child support determinations, establishing the biological father’s rights to visitation, or proving that a putative father (a man falsely believed to be the biological father) should not be responsible for providing support for the child.
In many cases, paternity suits are accompanied by a request for a DNA test. This is a scientific test that is used to accurately and conclusively prove paternity. DNA testing has become much easier and more reliable in recent years and has become the standard in most paternity suits.
Why Paternity Suits Matter
The outcome of a paternity suit is important for both the named father and the child in question. In addition to determining if a man is responsible for providing financial support for the child, a paternity suit can also establish a father’s legal rights to see the child. This is significant both for the father and the child as it helps with establishing an emotional connection and relationship.
Paternity suits can also be important for mothers as it can protect them from the burden of raising a child single-handedly, particularly if she lacks the financial resources of a two-parent household. It can also provide the mother and the child with the medical background and family history of the father, which can help in cases of medical emergencies.