What is the process for establishing legal paternity?

In North Carolina, the process for establishing legal paternity involves a few steps that must be followed in order to make it official. The first step is for the man and the mother to sign a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (VAP) form provided by the Office of Vital Statistics at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. This form states that the man is the father of the child and must be signed by both parties and submitted to the Office of Vital Statistics. After the form is submitted, a legal action must be taken to establish paternity by requesting a court order. This can be done through the county’s child support enforcement agency or through a private attorney. If paternity is established, the court order will require the man to pay child support in order to provide for the child’s financial needs. If the parent does not agree to sign the Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity form, then a court order may be issued for a DNA test to determine paternity. If the test results prove that the man is the biological father, then he must accept legal responsibility for the child. This includes providing financial and emotional support for the child. In North Carolina, establishing legal paternity is a multi-step process that requires both the mother and the father to cooperate. Once paternity is legally established, the father has both rights and responsibilities towards the child that must be taken seriously.

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What is the process for establishing legal paternity?

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