With the marriage rate falling in the U.S., it is not unusual for children to be born to unwed parents. However, when parents of a child are unmarried at the time of birth or the identity of a father is in question, it is important to follow Wisconsin legal procedures to establish paternity. Establishing paternity not only ensures that both parents can exercise their parental rights, but also ensures that a child will benefit from the financial and emotional support of both parents, which can make a huge difference in a child’s life.
In Wisconsin, there are a number of ways to establish paternity:
- Voluntary acknowledgement at the time of birth resulting in the addition of the fathers name to the birth certificate.
- If there is disagreement regarding the alleged father’s paternity the court may make a determination, sometimes requiring a DNA test to establish paternity of a child
- “Legitimation” occurs when unmarried parents decide to marry after the birth of a child and sign an Acknowledgement of Marital Child Form
Contact an Experienced Paternity Lawyer Today
It is important to establish paternity whether you are an unmarried father or a mother who has had a child outside of marriage to ensure that the child’s and parents’ rights are protected and responsibilities are fulfilled. If you have questions regarding paternity, child custody and support, contact the Waukesha law offices of Jane Probst Law for help today.