On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Family Law on Friday, January 15, 2016.
Statistics indicate that there are a large number of single mothers in our society today, with nearly 40 percent of all children being born to couples who are not married. Some people view this as a problem, citing irresponsible mothers or deadbeat fathers as a symptom of our country’s economic declines or social tragedies. The true problem with these out-of-wedlock births, however, is that issues of paternity are rarely addressed as thoroughly as they should be. This can lead to the wrong man paying child support for a baby that is not his, or a loving father being denied custody rights due to a legal technicality.
Despite what you may believe, it does not matter what it says on a birth certificate when issues of paternity arise. A man can be listed as the father on a birth certificate, but in Missouri, unless he files a paternity action, the law will not give him fair treatment when it comes to issues of custody. This will not, however, prevent Child Support Enforcement from requiring payment from the man in order to support the child and mother financially.
Even more noteworthy, is the fact that it can be impossible for a woman to tell exactly who the father of a child is if she had multiple sexual partners during the time the child was conceived. She may tell one of her sexual partners that he is the father, and that man may even believe it, but that does not make it true.
Paternity is a very serious issue, and it has far-reaching legal ramifications. If you believe that you are the father of a child for whom you have no custody or visitation rights, or if you are afraid that you are not truly the father of a child whom a woman claims you fathered, please visit our webpage. We can help you investigate and resolve matters of paternity so that you can begin living the life you and the child deserve.
