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In what ways can paternity be established?

The important role of a father in a child’s life is well documented. Children benefit in a number of ways when their fathers are an active part of their life, including being better behaved, more confident, and emotionally stable, and most fathers want to be as active as they can in their children’s lives. For these reasons, establishing paternity is often very important to children and fathers alike.

Paternity disputes most often arise when a child is born to an unmarried couple. In these cases, a father has no legal rights until he asserts them, which can only be accomplished once paternity is established. Additionally, a mother cannot collect child support until any paternity issues are settled.

There are a couple of ways to establish paternity in Arkansas. First, an alleged father can agree to, and acknowledge, paternity. Second, the parties can get a court order. To get a court order, a paternity test may be necessary.

There are two main types of paternity tests. The first is a blood test. Here, the child’s blood type is compared to the mother and the potential father’s. This test can help eliminate the possibility of someone being the child’s father, which can significantly help narrow down the field of potential fathers.

The other type of test is a DNA test. DNA testing is much more accurate than blood tests. These tests compare the father and child’s DNA to determine if there is a genetic match. A DNA patterning test just needs a few cells from a child and father’s cheeks and has a 99.9 percent accuracy rate.

Paternity actions to protect fathers’ rights often involve complex family law. They require the same level of skill as any other legal issue, meaning fathers should make sure their rights are protected by speaking with an attorney.

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