Establishing paternity means being declared the legal father after the child is born. If the parents of a child were not married when the mother became pregnant or when the child was born, the child does not have a legal father until paternity is established.
Establishing paternity is important for both the child and the parents. A child is entitled to the sense of belonging and identity that comes from knowing both parents. Establishing paternity often has an important emotional and psychological benefit for the child.
Until there is a determination that a biological father is the legal father, the child has no right to receive financial support from the father, to inherit from the father or to obtain insurance, veterans’, social security or other benefits through the father.
Likewise, until paternity is legally established, the biological father has no legal rights to the child, such as parenting time with the child, or participation in major decisions about the child, such as medical treatment, education or religious training.