Morris, Downing, Sherred LLP

Morris, Downing, Sherred LLP

Sussex County Personal Injury Attorneys | Family Law Lawyers Newton NJ

973-383-2700
  • Home
  • Attorneys
  • Areas of Law
    • New Jersey Personal Injury Attorneys
      • Motor Vehicle Accidents
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • New Jersey Truck Accidents Lawyers
      • Commercial Vehicle Accidents
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Uber Accidents
      • Drunk Driving Accidents
      • Slip and Fall Injuries
      • Dog Bites
      • Construction Accidents
      • Products Liability
      • Nursing Home Neglect
      • Severe Injuries
      • Spinal Injuries
      • Traumatic Brain Injuries
      • Walmart Lawsuits
      • Wrongful Death
      • Workers’ Compensation
      • Third-Party Claims
    • Employment Law
      • Employment Discrimination
      • NJ Workplace Harassment Law Firm
      • Wage and Hour Disputes
      • Severance Agreements
      • Non-Compete and Confidentiality Agreements
      • Whistleblower Claims
    • Medical Malpractice
      • Birth Injuries
      • Surgical Errors
    • Family Law
      • Divorce
      • Mediation & Arbitration
      • New Jersey Child Custody & Visitation Lawyers
      • Child Support
      • Alimony
      • New Jersey Complex Property Division Lawyers
      • New Jersey Domestic Violence Lawyers
    • Real Estate
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Title Closings
      • Zoning and Land Use
    • DUI & Traffic Violations
    • Trusts & Estates
      • New Jersey Estate Planning Attorneys
      • Will Drafting
      • Probate and Estate Administration
      • Trust Administration
      • Revocable Trusts and Living Trusts
      • Irrevocable Trusts
      • Special Needs Trusts
      • Durable Powers of Attorney
      • New Jersey Living Wills Lawyers
      • Asset Protection
      • Executor Assistance
      • Fiduciary Services
    • Business Law
      • Business Formation
      • Business Transactions
      • New Jersey Contract Disputes Attorneys
      • Mergers and Acquisitions
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Non-Compete and Confidentiality Agreements
      • Environmental Law and Litigation
    • Environmental Law
    • 9/11 Victims’ Compensation Claims
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
  • Blog
    • 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund
    • Employment Law
      • Whistleblower
      • Wrongful Termination
      • Discrimination
      • Sexual Harrassment
      • Employment Contracts
      • Severance Agreements
    • Family Law
      • Divorce
      • Domestic Violence
      • Alimony
      • Child Custody
      • Child Support
      • Property Division
      • Marital Settlement Agreement
      • Same-Sex Couples
    • Medical Malpractice
      • Birth Injuries
    • Personal Injury
      • Car Accidents
      • Motorcycle Accident
      • Truck Accidents
      • Slip & Fall Accidents
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Dog Bites
      • Products Liability
    • Trusts & Estates
      • Probate
      • Living Trusts
      • Power of Attorney
      • Wills
      • Will Contests
    • Workers’ Compensation
  • Contact

Reasons to establish paternity and how to do it

Posted May 7, 2018

On behalf of Morris, Downing & Sherred, LLP posted in Child Custody on Monday, May 7, 2018.

There are a number of reasons that either a mother or a father in New Jersey might want to establish paternity if the parents are not married. Establishing paternity is the first step in obtaining child support, but the potential financial benefits go beyond that. It is also necessary for a child to inherit from the father and get benefits such as Social Security. Finally, establishing paternity could help the child get information about any medical genetic issues that might arise.

Paternity might be voluntarily acknowledged. The father might do so at the birth of the child or later sign an affidavit of paternity.

However, if the father is unwilling to do this or the mother cannot locate the father, the local office of Child Support Enforcement may be able to assist. The IRS and other agencies may help in finding the father, and he will first be offered the option of acknowledging paternity. A father who does not may be asked to submit to a genetic test. If he refuses this test, he might be named the father by default. The father will be notified of the results of the genetic test.

Establishing paternity is accompanied by a financial responsibility to the child, but a father might also want to do so in order to get visitation or custody rights. Once paternity is formally established, the parents might agree to share custody. A mother or a father who is considering establishing paternity might want to talk to an attorney about the process and what the parent’s aims are in doing so. For example, a mother may want the father to fulfill his financial obligations but have limited access to the child if the father was neglectful.

Child Custody child custody

Contact us for a free consultation.

"*" indicates required fields

Disclaimer*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Small Town Attention, Big City Results

Follow Us on Social

We Would Love Your Feedback

Have something to share?
Facebook | Google My Business | Yelp

Morris, Downing & Sherred, LLP | 1 Main Street, P.O. Box 67 | Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: 973-383-2700 | Fax: 973-383-3510

©2025 Morris, Downing, Sherred LLP. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer. Privacy Policy.