The Importance Of Establishing Paternity

When a married couple has a child, that child is presumed under the law as the legal offspring of the couple. These are usually documented in birth certificates and in baptismal records later.

Unmarried parents, however, do not share that presumption. When a child is born to two single people, the father must legally establish paternity before any rights and responsibilities are given to the child.

Paternal obligations

If the father has little interest in being involved in the child’s life, there are still reasons why there is a need for establishing paternity. One important consideration is that the father has an obligation to support that child until the age of majority (18 years old in most states).

Health insurance

If paternity has been legally established, the father can now include his child on his health insurance policy. This will ensure the child will be able to receive proper medical care in times of need.

Benefits

If a father was a war veteran, the child might be able to receive disability and/or death benefits for the Veteran’s Administration. Social Security will also pay benefits to minor children of deceased parents.

If a child’s paternity is well-documented, it is to his or her financial benefit.

Inheritance

In terms of inheritance, unless a child is specifically named in a will, a child cannot receive any inheritance from the father if paternity has not been established. Paternity will also enable the child to receive inheritance from other family members on the father’s side when that relative passes on without a will.

Adoption

In order for a child to be adopted by a step-parent or any other guardian, both biological parents must generally agree to this adoption move. In case paternity has not been established in court, the father cannot contest any adoption moves or actions.

Medical history

Other than legal issues, establishing paternity can be of great importance to a child when faced with a medical decision that depends on his or her family’s medical history. Knowledge of paternity gives the child a complete picture of his or her parentage and can make an informed decision.

Relatives

The child may in later life want to explore his or her other relatives on the paternal side of the family. Establishing paternity gives the child the opportunity to explore the family tree of both the mother and father.

Future relationships

Relationships, like everything else in life, change. What is strained today will not be necessarily so in the future.

Establishing paternity leaves the door open for both the child and the father to reconnect at a later open and opportune time. Without establishing paternity, both the child and the father may be robbed of the opportunity of a lasting relationship in the future.

The importance of establishing paternity early on offers many tangible and intangible benefits for the child and the father. Even if paternity is established late, there are still some very good benefits to be had by all parties. Fortunately, paternity is so easy to establish today.