4 Legal Scenarios That Require a Paternity Test
If you have ever thought about having children before, it’s important to think about the responsibility that comes along with being a parent. Unfortunately, there are plenty of legal situations out there that might require a paternity test to establish someone’s biological relationship to a child. The court recognizes legitimate paternity tests as proof of a biological relationship between a father and a child, which is why it’s important to understand some of the scenarios that might require a paternity test. If you are interested in learning about paternity testing or area looking to call a fathers rights attorney, reach out to The Johnson Law Firm & Associates today.
1. Clearing Up Inheritance Rights Disputes
Whenever someone passes away, they usually leave their assets to certain heirs. In some cases, people come into play contesting inheritance rights. They usually want to establish that they are the rightful heirs to the inheritance and were biologically related to the deceased. This is when the paternity test comes into play. The paternity test can quickly put to rest any doubts about whether or not the person is indeed related to the deceased. If you are dealing with this type of scenario, you should reach out to an inheritance attorney for help.
2. Child Support and Child Custody Cases
Another common legal scenario that requires a paternity test is cases related to child support and child custody. This typically happens when a couple has a child when they are not married. When a couple has a child while they are married, the father is typically thought of to be the father. If the couple ends up getting a divorce, he will likely have to pay child support even if the child is not his biological child. If there is a doubt about who the father is in a relationship where they are not married, the paternity test will be essential in determining if that man does indeed owe child support.
3. Benefits After a Parent Passes Away
Losing a loved family member, particularly your mother or father, can be a very tough time in your life. Benefits like social security and life-insurance typically require that the beneficiary provide proof of paternity. This means they will have to take a paternity test in order to legally verify their biological relationship with the deceased. This isn’t something to take personally, it’s simply how these benefits are accurately distributed to the rightful person.
4. Adoption
Sometimes, people that were adopted end up needing to find out relationship information for things like immigration, social security, inheritance, and more. A paternity test can help them establish a relationship and receive those benefits, even if they never really knew their biological parents.
Paternity tests can be a useful way to verify biological relationships in court. If you are dealing with any of the scenarios mentioned above or would like to speak with a professional legal expert about paternity testing, reach out to The Johnson Law Firm & Associates today.