Fathers’ Rights

Advocating for Fathers

How to Establish Paternity Over a Child in Columbia

In addition to biological testing, there are several ways to establish paternity in Tennessee. For example, if a mother is married to a man when she gives birth, the law presumes her husband is the child’s biological parent. Likewise, hospital staff will name a husband as a baby’s father on their birth certificate.

Alternatively, non-married parents may jointly establish paternity by filling out and signing a “Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity” immediately after their child is born or shortly afterward.

However, if either parent disagrees about who fathered a child, it may be necessary to request DNA testing through a court. After establishing paternity, a father may ask the court for custody rights or visitation time with the child, which the court will resolve by considering the child’s best interests.

Anyone acknowledged as a child’s father – legally or biologically – may be obligated to financially support them in accordance with the state’s Child Support Guidelines. Child support obligations still apply even if a father has no custodial rights with their child, or if they are explicitly denied visitation time.

A local attorney could review documentation to determine if a father must legally pay support obligations to another parent.

Advocating for Fathers

Enforcing Existing Custody or Support Orders in Columbia

Even if a court acknowledges someone as a child’s father and grants them visitation or custody, the mother may interfere with such orders or even refuse to comply with them altogether.

In extreme situations, legal counsel plays a vital role by ensuring that the child’s other parent obeys a court order. If necessary, a legal team member will also demand any remittance for not following a previous custodial agreement. For example, at a lawyer’s request, a court might order that a parent pays a co-parent back for any unpaid child support payments.

It is always worth discussing situations like this with a legal representative before involving law enforcement. In some cases, a diligent lawyer in Columbia could resolve any issues at hand through private discussions or mediation, before incurring the expense of legal action.