Establishing paternity is a crucial step in determining a child’s father in Minnesota. When you establish paternity, it can influence child custody, visitation, and child support decisions. Minnesota offers several methods to establish paternity, depending on the situation.
Voluntary acknowledgment of paternity
In many cases, both parents can establish paternity by signing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (VAP) form. You can complete this at the hospital when your child is born or later at a local county office. The VAP form is a legal document where the man signing it acknowledges that he is the biological father of the child. This process is straightforward and doesn’t require a court order, but both parents must agree to it.
Paternity test
If you question the father’s identity, a paternity test can confirm biological fatherhood. A court may order the test, or one of the parents can request it. The test typically involves a cheek swab from the child and the potential father. If the results show a 99% or greater probability that the man is the father, the court will establish paternity.
Court proceedings
In some cases, you may need to establish paternity through a court order. If both parents disagree about who the father is or if one parent refuses to cooperate, the court will step in. A judge may order a paternity test or consider other evidence to determine the legal father. Once the court establishes paternity, the father gains rights to custody or visitation and may face child support obligations.
Once paternity is established, the father can pursue legal rights such as custody and visitation. Additionally, the father may need to pay child support. The child also gains rights, including inheritance from both parents and access to benefits like health insurance or social security.