The Benefits of Establishing Paternity

 

Why It’s Important to Legally Document Fatherhood

When a married couple has a child, both parents are presumed under the law to be the legal parents without any documentation to that effect from the court. However, when a child is born to two single people, the father must legally establish paternity before any rights and responsibilities can be given to him.

There are many other reasons for establishing paternity:

Child Support:  By establishing paternity, you can meet obligation of supporting your child and avoid a large amount of arrears accumulating.

Benefits:  Children are entitled to receive benefits from the government under certain circumstances. If the father was a veteran, the child may be able to receive disability and/or death benefits from Veteran’s Administration. Likewise, Social Security also pays benefits to minor children of deceased parents so it’s to the child’s financial benefit to have the biological father legally documented.

Inheritance:  Unless a child is specifically named in the will of his or her father, he or she cannot receive any inheritance if paternity has not been established. Paternity also enables the child to receive inheritances from other family members on the father’s side when the relative passes on without a will.

Adoption:  In order for a child to be adopted by a step-parent or other guardian, both biological parents must generally agree to the adoption. If paternity has not been established in court, the father will be unable to contest any actions for adoption.

In addition to legal issues, there are also some personal yet equally important reasons to establish paternity:

Things Can Change:  If relationships are strained now it doesn’t necessarily mean that things won’t change in the future. They can, and they frequently do. Establishing paternity leaves the door open for the child and the father to reconnect at a later time and possibly build a lasting relationship. Without establishing paternity, the child may never know who his or her biological father is.

Click Here to Find Out More...