Paternity or parentage creates legal obligations and makes an individual eligible for certain legal rights. Some parents automatically have parentage. Mothers’ names are included on birth certificates regardless of their marital status. Married fathers also benefit from a presumption of paternity when their wife gives birth.
Unmarried fathers do not have the same legal protection. They must officially establish paternity with the state to assert their rights. This is especially important if they do not maintain an ongoing relationship with the mothers of their children. What are the main ways that Connecticut fathers establish parentage?
Through voluntary acknowledgment
Unmarried couples can agree to acknowledge the man as the father of the child. They can execute voluntary paperwork cooperatively at the hospital after the child’s birth or while the child is still a minor.
That paperwork allows the state to include the man’s name on the birth certificate or to amend an existing birth certificate to add him as the father. Voluntary acknowledgments require the consent and cooperation of both parents.
Through court proceedings
When there are questions about parentage or when one parent refuses to voluntarily acknowledge paternity, either parent can request court proceedings. During a paternity case, the courts frequently order genetic testing.
This testing allows for the validation of the genetic relationship between the child and the likely father. If the test supports the claim of paternity, the state can amend the birth certificate to reflect the genetic relationship between the man and child.
Establishing paternity can be beneficial for everyone in the family unit. Both unmarried fathers and concerned mothers may require legal guidance to complete the necessary steps to legally establish parentage in Connecticut.
