Paternity

Definition: As used in family law issues, paternity is the act or state of being a father. In a family law case, if there is a question about whether a man is the biological parent of a child, it is a question of paternity. When there is a question, the court will attempt to establish paternity of a man claiming to be or trying to not be determined to be the father of a child. While there are usually legal presumptions of paternity (such as the man who was the husband of the woman when she gave birth), those presumptions might be disproved by a paternity test. Likewise, if two men had been involved sexually with a woman during the time she might have conceived a child later born, then an establishment of paternity would be required to determine which man would be required to provide support for the child.