The Benefits of Genetic Testing for Paternity

When a couple is married and has a baby, the husband is the presumed father of the child. However, when a woman gives birth who is unmarried, establishing paternity can get more complicated. One option for establishing paternity in Florida is through the use of genetic testing. There are many benefits to utilizing the court process of genetic testing to legally recognize the father of a child, and in Tampa the law office of Blair H. Chan, III is here to help. Call the office or contact us today to learn more about the benefits of genetic testing to establish paternity.

Why Use Genetic Testing?

Genetic testing to recognize paternity can be useful in a couple of different situations. If one parent refuses to acknowledge paternity and will not sign a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity form, the court can order the potential father to undergo genetic testing. This option is also useful if there is a lack of clarity in who the father of the child might be or if a third party comes forward claiming to be the father of the child. Genetic testing can conclusively determine who the biological and legal father of a child is with a simple cotton swab.

In order to get genetic testing performed for a paternity test, either the mother or potential father can utilize the courts. Their attorney will make a petition to have genetic testing done on the child and potential father, and the court will grant the order. This will compel testing under threat of contempt of court. Once established, there are many benefits to knowing who the biological father of your child is.

Benefits of Establishing Paternity

There are many benefits to establishing paternity for a child. First and foremost, recognizing paternity allows the father and child an opportunity to create and foster a loving relationship with each other. Your child can have a trusted and supportive father in their life, and the father is able to provide for the child in a number of ways. Beyond establishing a loving and nurturing relationship, the father can also help with the costs of care of a child. This includes child support, health insurance coverage, life insurance benefits, workers’ compensation or Social Security benefits, rights to inheritance, and more.

Establishing paternity also provides the opportunity to set up a child custody and visitation schedule so that your child has the chance to spend time with both parents as they grow. If paternity is not recognized, the father has no legal right to spend time with their child. An attorney can go over all of these benefits, and more, on why establishing paternity through genetic testing is in your best interest.

Talk to Our Office Now

If you would like to learn more about genetic testing for paternity, reach out to skilled Tampa paternity lawyer Blair H. Chan. Schedule an initial consultation with an experienced attorney now to discuss your legal options.

https://www.bchanlaw.com/what-will-the-court-consider-in-determining-child-custody/