A Petition to Establish Parentage must be filed first to determine the identity of the father of a child born outside of marriage. If the mother doesn’t do so, then the Department of Child Support Services might do so, or the father might do so to establish his custodial rights.
However, a man may be appear in court and deny parentage, in which case a DNA test is ordered proving his paternity. After paternity is established, the father has all the rights and obligations of parenthood, including the duty to support the child and the right to petition for custody or visitation. http://www.nolo.com/dictionary/paternity-suit-term.html
Morinelli & Lieberman Law Group can help you get an enforceable order of custody, visitation or support with our affordable flat-fee rates.
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