What is the difference between legal and presumed paternity?

In New York, legal paternity is established when a father is legally determined to be the biological father of a child. This typically happens when the father and mother of the child are married, or when they sign an Acknowledgement of Paternity form. However, a father can also assert paternity through a court order. Presumed paternity, on the other hand, is when a father is assumed by the court to be the biological father of a child, even though no legal steps have been taken. In order for paternity to be presumed, the father and mother must have married each other at some point, and the father must also have openly acknowledged paternity. In terms of differences, legal paternity involves a legal process that proves the biological relationship between a father and a child, while presumed paternity is an assumption made by the court without any biological proof. This is important because presumed paternity does not carry the same rights and responsibilities as legal paternity. For example, presumed fathers are not typically entitled to visitation rights or custody of their children, nor do they have the right to inheritance or support payments. Legal paternity, however, entitles the father to all those rights and responsibilities.

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What is the difference between legal and presumed paternity?

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