Being a parent is a proud accomplishment for many people. It is sometimes very easy for a person to not know they are a parent or to be parenting a child that is not theirs. Some men want to be the father of the child and just simply do not know. Others may need assistance in proving the child is not theirs. For mothers who know the father, law firms can summon them to a paternity test to prove they are responsible and get the child the support they deserve.

Paternity comes in question when the court needs to determine if someone is liable for child support and other legal matters regarding children. In order to award child support money to the primary care parent, a paternity test may be required. This will legally acknowledge the relationship between the parent and the child. When two people are married and a child is conceived and born, they are considered to have full rights and obligations to the child. However, if one of the parties can provide evidence that the child may not be theirs a paternity test will be ordered by the court before any court decisions are made for child support during a divorce.

When a mother was not married, the man can accept the paternity rights. The mother can petition the court for legal orders to determine the father of the child. Once the father has been determined, they may choose to be involved and exercise their parental rights through a parenting plan. This plan says how each parent will share in the responsibilities of the child including legal custody, visitation, and medical insurance.

Paternity suits are in most cases assumed to be due to the man refusing to pay child support as a result of the two parties not being married when the child was conceived. This is true, but they also can occur within a marriage in cases where the wife was unfaithful. The husband may question whether the child is his and need it to be scientifically proven for issues such as custody and child support in divorce cases.

In many cases a father who is proven to not be the paternal father may be required to support the child if they did so prior to the divorce. This depends on the state. Many states have now passed laws that remove the responsibility if the man is not the paternal father. When a child is legally adopted, the father is still responsible for supporting them. Often the paternity test is ordered by the court to determine the actual father of the child for a proper court decision.

Divorce attorneys can be very helpful in cases like these because they already know all other aspects of the divorce and custody decisions. They can file the petitions and other forms necessary for the paternity test and serve your best interests. No matter what the issue is, knowing your rights and responsibilities can help you provide the information your lawyer needs for a solid case.

Sometimes things aren't always straightforward when it comes to children. Maybe you are a mom who needs to legally determine the father for child support, or are going through a nasty divorce where your wife was unfaithful.