When a child is born, depending on the circumstances, a man is presumed to be the father of that child. However, just because he is the presumed father does not mean that he is in fact the father. Should the mother or the man who has been acting as the child’s father have questions or want to prove that he is or isn’t the child’s biological father, they may decide to challenge paternity.
In certain situations, a man may have good reasons for wanting to challenge the paternity of a child. Whether a man is reluctant to care for the child or wants to be present in their life, they may want to ensure that the child is theirs before they start to contribute in any way or continue to do so. They may not want to build a relationship with the child and have to suffer the devastation of later finding out that the child is another man’s; challenging paternity is a way to prevent this from happening.
A man taking a test to ensure that he is the father of a child, a child he has assumed is his, is not going to have a pleasant experience, but he deserves to know the truth. With them possibly not trusting the mother of the child, or there being a suspicion that the child is not theirs, finding out once and for all who the father is can help ease their mind. It would be unfair for the child to have to suffer because they do not have both parents present, so the sooner the testing is done, the better.
If you would like to establish or challenge paternity of your child and take responsibility as his or her father, you have the right to do so. Children need both parents present in their lives, so if a DNA test can help you form a relationship with your child and benefit their growth and development, it is worth it. An attorney at the Law Office of Nancy H. Boler may be able to assist you with the legal aspects pertaining to paternity issues.