Paternity is the legal process for determining the parents of a child. At first this may seem obvious and simple but determining whom can stake legal claim and authority over a child can be a complicated process with high emotions. Staking legal claim to a child is often not as simple as, "He or She is my child because I had sex with the mother nine months before the child was born." When a parent seeks to establish Paternity they are asking the Court to give them legal power over another human in some capacity. Although it may seem straightforward there are various legal hurdles to overcome and presumptions of paternity that one may have to combat. Similarly, having someone claim that a child is yours and seeking monetary support through the paternity process can be equally as confusing.
Below are a few answers to some common questions people have when Paternity is at issue.