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Paternity tests and child support

On Behalf of | Aug 21, 2017 | Divorce

Michigan parents should understand what kind of role paternity has in determining child support. Paternity testing through DNA is a tool that provides an accuracy rate of 99.99999 percent and is used often in cases for which child support and custody have to be determined.

Whether or not child support is awarded hinges largely on the results of the test. A man can be deemed not liable for child support if the results indicate that he is not the biological father of the child in question.

When a child is conceived of a father and mother who are not married, there is no automatic assumption that the father is the legal father. As an alleged father, the man’s name is not required to be on the child’s birth certificate until he has been declared to be the legal father of the child. The man will be required to pay child support, if applicable, if he has legally confirmed that he is the child’s father or if the court has determined that he is so. The father may also be given custody or visitation rights.

There are multiple options with regard to establishing paternity. A paternity test can be initiated with an AABB-accredited laboratory. Both parents can agree to complete and submit a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity form. A paternity order can also be issued by a judge or by the child and family services department of the state.

Michigan family law attorneys may work to protect the rights and interests of clients who are seeking child support or who wish to be legally recognized as a father so that parental rights might be awarded.

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