Establishment of Parentage

 

The legal process of determining a child’s biological father is called establishing paternity. There are various ways to establish paternity:

 

  • When a child’s fatherhood is in doubt or is contested, we can obtain reliable DNA evidence to help resolve the issue. The results of genetic testing are accepted by the court as viable evidence to prove who the father of a child is.
  • Parents may choose to establish paternity through the Paternity Opportunity Program (POP), a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity program that requires no genetic testing. This is accomplished when both parents sign a Paternity Declaration form. Find more information on POP
  • Parents may choose to establish paternity by signing a Stipulation. This is a legal agreement signed by both parents that is filed with Superior Court. We prepare the legal documents and file them with the court.

 

Establishing legal paternity gives a child born to unmarried parents the legal rights and privileges of a child born within a marriage.