A Paternity action is brought to establish
a parent-child relationship. The end result of the action is
a court decree establishing the relationship and making necessary
orders for custody, support, and visitation of the child involved.
The action may be brought any time after conception and is often
brought before the birth of the child to obtain help in paying
the expenses of pregnancy and birth.
In cases in which paternity is admitted, an agreement to this
effect may be drawn up and signed by the parties. Where paternity
is denied, the parties can be ordered by the Court to undergo
paternity testing.
The test of choice for the courts these days is the "HLA
tissue test." To conduct this test, both parents give
blood samples. The genetic factors in the samples are analyzed
and a report is generated which indicates the probability of
paternity. This is a highly accurate test and the courts generally
accept the results.
Once paternity has been established, issues of custody, support,
and visitation remain to be resolved. These issues may be resolved
by way of a written agreement. However, if the parties cannot
agree, the court will make appropriate orders. |