In some cases, parents may never need to formally establish paternity. During a divorce, legal separation, or annulment, however, one parent may need formal recognition to protect a child’s rights. Without proven paternity, kids may lose the right to:
Financial child support from both parents
Social security and veteran’s benefits
Inheritance
A birth certificate including the names of both parents
Obtain health insurance or records from both sides of the family
Recognize and spend time with both legal parents
In addition to protecting a child’s rights, establishing paternity is a way for a parent to play a role in his child’s life even if the state does not officially recognize the relationship. In some cases, for example, a mother may try to prevent a biological father from asserting his role as parent. A father will thus need to establish paternity to legally support his child.