Paternity

In California, a paternity action is a legal process that is used to establish the parental relationship between a father and his child. It is typically used when the child’s biological father is not married to the child’s mother, and there is a need to establish the father’s legal rights and responsibilities.

A paternity action can be initiated by either the mother or the father, or by the child if the child is over the age of 12. To initiate a paternity action, the petitioner must file a petition with the court, which typically includes information about the parties, the child and the grounds for seeking a determination of paternity.

Once a paternity action has been filed, the court may order the parties to submit to genetic testing to determine the biological father of the child. If the test results confirm paternity, the court will issue an order declaring the man to be the child’s legal father.

Establishing paternity has important legal consequences, including the father’s obligation to provide financial support for the child, the right to seek custody or visitation, and the ability to make important decisions regarding the child’s upbringing, such as the health, education and welfare of the child.

In addition to establishing paternity, a paternity action may also be used to resolve issues such as child custody, child support, and visitation rights. If you and the other party are unable to reach an agreement on these issues, the court may schedule a trial to hear evidence and make decisions based on the best interests of the child(ren).