When a child is born into wedlock, the mother's husband is presumed to be the legal father, with all the rights and responsibilities that parenthood brings. However, establishing paternity can be much more complicated if the parents weren’t married at the time of their birth. If you are looking to establish paternity in Nebraska, the following offers advice on how to do so.

Reasons to Establish Paternity

Every child has a right to the financial resources of each parent. If the parents are no longer together, the mother may want to pursue child support. When paternity is established, the father will have a legal obligation to help cover the costs of raising the child.

Parents should also be able to participate in the lives of their children. If the mother denies that a man is the father of her child, he may want to prove paternity to obtain visitation or custody rights.

How to Establish Paternity in Nebraska

Voluntary Acknowledgement

The easiest and most common method of establishing paternity is for both parents to voluntarily acknowledge a man as the father. This can be done by signing a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity form and having it notarized. When this document is submitted to the Department of Health and Vital Statistics, the father will be added to the child’s birth certificate.

Obtaining a Court Order

When the parents disagree about whether a man is a child’s father, either party can file a paternity petition with the court. The Department of Social Services can also take action if the mother is trying to collect child support.

Upon receiving the petition, the court will order both parties to complete a DNA test. If the alleged father refuses to comply, the court may take that as proof that they are legally responsible for the child.

If you’re engaged in a paternity dispute anywhere in the Lincoln, NE, area, David R Webb, Attorney at Law will deliver the detailed legal guidance you need. This accomplished lawyer has over 30 years’ experience fighting for his clients' rights in family law cases. Visit his website for an overview of his team’s legal services, or schedule a consultation today by calling (402) 477-7577.