Father’s rights: Establishing paternity in the state of Michigan

Across the United States, there is legislation surrounding the rights of children, particularly relating to the rights of married couples. For example, when two people are married, and a pregnancy occurs during the time of the marriage, it is automatically assumed by the state that the husband is the father to the child. By making this assumption in the state of Michigan, he is considered the child’s father under the law, giving this husband a variety of legal rights, without ever having to prove a genetic connection to the child. The allowed certain parental rights may include being able to sign the birth certificate immediately, and more. Those are privileged moments that most parents would cherish, but unfortunately, not all fathers are immediately provided with that life changing opportunity, For some, legally proving their connection to their offspring can be a much more arduous process The privileges automatically afforded to husbands in relationships where a pregnancy occurred, are not immediately recognized for men who impregnate someone that they are not legally married to.  For these unwed fathers. In order to enact their parental rights, they must take steps to establish paternity if they want to have legal involvement in the life of their child.

However, we believe that marriage should be a personal choice. Whether financial issues hinder you, distance is a factor, or any other reasons may prevent you from marriage, know that you still have rights if a pregnancy occurs with someone who you have been intimate with. Unfortunately, many men assume that if he is not married to the mother of the unborn child, that he automatically loses all rights to the child. However, that is generally untrue. Protections exist in many states that account for situations when the father and mother are unmarried, and ensure that the father still has the opportunity to be legally connected to the child. The Michigan paternity act outlines this process in great detail, including an explanation of what the process of a paternity case will look like. This is not a process that someone should try to navigate alone. Though family and friends can be great support, working with an experienced paternity attorney will ensure your best results in the courtroom, in order to begin building a relationship with your child, even before they are born. With the help of a paternity attorney in Michigan, as a biological father, you still have rights when a child is born. In order to prove that you are indeed the legal father, rather than simply the alleged father, you will have to take a court ordered paternity test by the state of Michigan. Once the family circuit courts confirm a dna match through paternity testing, then you are able to sign the birth certificate.