Paternity
As traditional norms on what a family is have evolved, it is no longer uncommon for children to be born out of wedlock but having both parents legally recognized as the birth parents has significant implications for both the parents and children. Virginia uses paternity as a legal word used to describe fatherhood. For married couples, the husband is automatically considered the legal father for children born during the marriage. However, in unmarried relationships, the father must establish paternity to obtain legal rights over the child; otherwise, the child will legally lack a father.
Generally, there are two ways that paternity can be established: through an affidavit or by a court order. Establishing paternity is the easiest of the two options, and it can be signed either at the hospital where the baby is born (before their discharge) or at a local government office. Obtaining a court order is a more involved process that requires the father to sign legal documents affirming their paternity and child support obligations followed by a hearing in front of a judge.
Each paternity case is different and having legal counsel that is knowledgeable of the law and court process can make the difference in deciding whether a legal connection is established between the child and father. Schedule a consultation with our office today to see what options are available to you.