How can paternity be established?
There are three different ways of establishing paternity of a child born to unmarried parents:
- By signing a paternity acknowledgment at the hospital or shortly after the birth of a child. This document places a father’s name on the birth certificate and will render the father liable for child support set by the Division of Child Support administratively.
- By contacting the prosecutors’ office, child support division, and requesting paternity establishment services. This results in an actual court order which provides for a residential schedule, designates a primary custodian and an order of child support
- By pursuing a private paternity action through an attorney, which will result in the same kind of orders that the prosecutors’ office obtains, but a more comprehensive Parenting Plan.
Note: DNA genetic testing is available by court order. The paternity statutes are uniquely separate and contain a number of timelines and procedures.
Establishing Paternity – what happens once paternity has been established?
Once paternity is established, then either parent may petition the court for a comprehensive Parenting Plan.