Establishing Paternity Through Paternity Action

Not all of us are born with or have an ideal family. An ideal family is one which consists of a mother, a father, and a child or children. A child having no idea about the identity of his or her parents and a single mother or father raising her or his child alone, these are examples of families which basing from the technical definition, is not a family.

Paternity action is one way to identify who are the biological parents of a child especially when the child is born out of wedlock. Just like Erik Erikson, a developmental psychologist, we tend to seek for our biological father or mother’s identity. Without knowing their identity, there is a large tendency that we will undergo identity crisis since there is a confusion on our identity that is link to our missing biological parent. Thus, a child can file for a paternity action in order to establish connection with his or her parents.

Paternity action can also be filed by a single mother who wish to gain child support and also paternal love from the father of the child. If the mother has no idea about the biological father of her child, she can name multiple potential fathers.Then the process of identifying the real father will commence.

An estranged father can also file for paternity action if he wish to have a custodial or visitation rights with his child.

Not only the people involved can file for paternity action. If an unwed mother is receiving Medicaid while giving birth, the state may initiate a paternity action to establish who the father is and set support. This way the state will get a reimbursement for the public assistance they provide for the mother and the child.

The process begins with the preparation and filing of a summons and complaint. The summons will then inform the defendant(s) or the potential fathers that he is involved in a legal proceeding.

The Paternity Complaint

The paternity complaint states the following;

• Who the mother is
• Who the father or potential fathers may be
• Approximate date of conception
• The child’s birth date
• The responsibility of the father to pay for confinement cost

Confinement cost include all the medical bills associated when the child was born.

The fastest and most accurate way of establishing paternity is through DNA testing. It is typically ninety-nine percent (99%) accurate. After all the investigations and when paternity is established, the court will then discuss and determine the arrangement of custody, parenting time, and child support.

Paternity actions are complicated. Even if prosecutors initiates the case, they are only interested in establishing paternity and child support to reimburse the state. If you are seeking for custody or parenting time, they will not be of any help. Thus, you need someone who has who has extensive knowledge in paternity, custody, parenting time and child support.

The attorneys at Van Tubergen, Treutler & Hayes, PLLC in Grand Haven, Holland and West Michigan will give you an experienced counsel and will help you win your case. Call 616-844-3000 for free initial consultation.