Why Legal Paternity Is Important—Even For Healthy Relationships
While the emotional aspects of parenting are undeniably important, the legal recognition of paternity also has value. Establishing paternity can offer benefits for all parties involved—the father, mother, and child.
Keep reading to learn why legal paternity matters, even in healthy relationships.
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Why Legal Paternity Matters
Some parents might think that if their relationship is solid, there's no need to establish paternity. However, skipping this step means missing out on several important benefits. Here's why making it official is worth it:
Parental Rights
Legal paternity sets clear rights and responsibilities for the father, ensuring he's recognized as a legal parent. This means he can help make important decisions about his child's upbringing, like schooling and healthcare. Without legal paternity, a father might not have a say, no matter how involved he is. It also helps with custody and visitation rights if the relationship between parents changes, ensuring decisions are in the child's best interest. Establishing paternity now can save a lot of legal headaches later.
The Child's Access To Benefits
When paternity is legally established, it allows a child to access a range of benefits that might otherwise be unavailable, such as health insurance through the father's plan, inheritance rights, and eligibility for social security benefits if the father passes away or becomes disabled. Without legal paternity, a child might miss out on these benefits.
Financial Reasons
Legal paternity can be key for the financial well-being of the child. When legal paternity is established, then child support can also be established if needed, helping with the child's upbringing and stability. Until legal paternity is established, child support cannot usually be established.
Parental Relationships
While a father can certainly bond with his child without legal documentation, legal paternity can help clarify his role within the family. This can create a more stable and secure environment for the child and foster stronger, more positive relationships among all family members.
Choosing a Paternity Test
If you decide to go for a paternity test, it's important that you choose the correct type of test. A home DNA test won't cut it if you need to establish paternity legally. Make sure you get a legal DNA test for paternity, especially if you plan to use the results in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a home DNA test and a legal DNA test for paternity?
A home DNA test can provide information about biological relationships but is not legally binding. A legal DNA test follows strict chain-of-custody procedures and is conducted in a certified lab, making the results admissible in court for legal purposes.
How long does it take to get the results of a legal paternity DNA test?
Our legal paternity tests typically take about a week to get results from a cheek swab.
Can legal paternity be contested after it has been established?
In many cases, legal paternity can be contested, but it requires new evidence, such as additional DNA testing or other compelling reasons. This process usually involves legal proceedings and may require the assistance of a lawyer.
