Paternity
When it comes to parenthood, the legal rights you have to your child are essential. Paternity is an issue that many fathers face, and those issues can be resolved with the help of a family law attorney.
What is Paternity?
Paternity is the term used to refer to the legal father of a child under Minnesota law. Once a man is established as the legal father, he has an obligation to support the child financially, and he may ask for a court order for custody and parenting time. Under Minnesota law, if a child’s mom and dad are not married when the child is born, the dad is not recognized as the legal father until someone takes legal steps to establish his paternity.
How can a man become a child’s legal father?
If a man is not married to a child’s mother when the child is born, he can become the legal father through the Recognition of Parentage process or by court order. A Recognition of Parentage form is signed by the mother and father of the child, stating that they are the biological parents even though they may not be married.