Is marriage required for establishing paternity?

No, marriage is not required for establishing paternity in North Carolina. Paternity can be established through several methods in the state, including signing a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity form, a Court Order, or a Genetic Testing Order. The Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity form is the most common method of establishing paternity in North Carolina. It is a document that is signed by both parents, typically at the hospital at birth, which acknowledges that a man is the father of the child. After both parents sign the form, it is registered with the State Vital Records office. A Court Order is another way to establish paternity in North Carolina. This happens when the father is not listed on the birth certificate or if the parents are disagreeing on who the father is. A judge will review the facts of the case and make a ruling. Finally, a Genetic Testing Order is a document from a judge that requires a father to undergo a DNA test to prove their paternity. This can be done as part of a paternity suit or in other circumstances. In North Carolina, marriage is not required to establish paternity. These three methods are available to parents in the state for establishing the paternity of their child.

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