When it comes to the issue of child custody, fathers my face more problems than the mother will. For quite some time, mothers have been seen as the primary caregivers of children, so often when there is a custody battle, the mother is awarded custody of the child. In some cases, this could be because the mother is more fit as a parent, but it also could be because the father has yet to prove paternity.
When a man believes that he is the father of a child, he has two options for how he can prove paternity. The first option is a blood test and the second, more common option is a DNA test. Once he agrees to take one of these test and it proves that he is the father, he then may be able to gain custody of his child.
Sometimes, the father may be asked to submit to a paternity test even if he does not want to be in the life of his child. With these tests being close to 99 percent accurate, courts often believe that the results can be trusted. This is good because fathers who may not want to pay child support because they do not believe the child is theirs can be asked to take this test and it will prove that they are the father and they will have to pay child support.
If you and the mother of your child are having a dispute over child custody and you may be required to prove paternity, an attorney may be able to assist you. Your child deserves to have both parents present in his or her life. If proving that you are the father will allow you to be present in the child’s life, then taking this simple test will be worth your time.
