Paternity Matters: FAQs
To “establish paternity” means to decide who a child’s legal father is.
"Paternity establishment" gives unmarried parents all of the same rights and duties that married parents have when a child is born.
In Utah, parents who were not married when the child was born have three options for establishing paternity:
• The administrative process done through ORS
• The court process
• The hospital or at-home process done by signing a Voluntary Declaration of Paternity
Paternity establishment is important for many reasons. Some of the reasons include:
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The law requires both parents to support their child. This is true even when parents are not married to each other. Paternity establishment allows the child to receive financial support from both parents.
MEDICAL
Paternity establishment permits the child to be added to the father's, as well as the mother's, medical insurance.
FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY
A child may need to know if she/he has inherited any special health problems. Paternity establishment may help doctors to research the child's family health history. In case a child or parent needs a donor for a transplant, knowing who the members of the immediate family are is important.
BENEFITS
Without paternity establishment, a child is not legally entitled to any of his/her father's benefits including: Social Security insurance benefits, inheritance rights, veteran's and other benefits.
RIGHTS
When paternity is established, the biological father has the same rights as a father of a child born in a marriage. Paternity establishment permits the father to pursue the rights that go along with fatherhood, including custody, parent-time (visitation), and decision-making regarding the child.
CITIZENSHIP
Parents provide the child with citizenship and/or nationality. If the father was not born in the United States, his/her place of origin may provide important rights to the child once paternity is legally established.
Very accurate genetic tests are available which will tell you whether you are the father of the child or not.
Genetic tests require a DNA sample from the parents and from the child. The sample is taken by rubbing a buccal swab (like a cotton swab) inside of the mouth.
The DNA samples are sent to a lab for analysis, and the results are usually back within a month.
There are many companies available for genetic tests; however, be sure that they are accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) if you want the tests to be used as legal evidence.
The Office of Recovery Services offers genetic testing services, usually free, if the parents have an open case for paternity establishment and child support services.
Paternity establishment is important for many reasons. Some of the reasons include:
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The law requires both parents to support their child. This is true even when parents are not married to each other. Paternity establishment allows the child to receive financial support from both parents.
MEDICAL
Paternity establishment permits the child to be added to the father's, as well as the mother's, medical insurance.
FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY
A child may need to know if she/he has inherited any special health problems. Paternity establishment may help doctors to research the child's family health history. In case a child or parent needs a donor for a transplant, knowing who the members of the immediate family are is important.
BENEFITS
Without paternity establishment, a child is not legally entitled to any of his/her father's benefits including: Social Security insurance benefits, inheritance rights, veteran's and other benefits.
RIGHTS
When paternity is established, the biological father has the same rights as a father of a child born in a marriage. Paternity establishment permits the father to pursue the rights that go along with fatherhood, including custody, parent-time (visitation), and decision-making regarding the child.
CITIZENSHIP
Parents provide the child with citizenship and/or nationality. If the father was not born in the United States, his/her place of origin may provide important rights to the child once paternity is legally established.
Paternity establishment is important for many reasons. Some of the reasons include:
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The law requires both parents to support their child. This is true even when parents are not married to each other. Paternity establishment allows the child to receive financial support from both parents.
MEDICAL
Paternity establishment permits the child to be added to the father's, as well as the mother's, medical insurance.
FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY
A child may need to know if she/he has inherited any special health problems. Paternity establishment may help doctors to research the child's family health history. In case a child or parent needs a donor for a transplant, knowing who the members of the immediate family are is important.
BENEFITS
Without paternity establishment, a child is not legally entitled to any of his/her father's benefits including: Social Security insurance benefits, inheritance rights, veteran's and other benefits.
RIGHTS
When paternity is established, the biological father has the same rights as a father of a child born in a marriage. Paternity establishment permits the father to pursue the rights that go along with fatherhood, including custody, parent-time (visitation), and decision-making regarding the child.
CITIZENSHIP
Parents provide the child with citizenship and/or nationality. If the father was not born in the United States, his/her place of origin may provide important rights to the child once paternity is legally established.