What if I am not sure if I am the father of a child?

If you are not sure if you are the father of a child in California, you may want to take a paternity test. A paternity test is a test to determine the biological father of a child. It is generally done through a blood test. In California, a paternity test can be taken voluntarily or by court order. If a paternity test is taken voluntarily, both the purported father and the mother will typically sign consent forms for the collection of DNA samples. The samples will then be tested at an accredited laboratory to determine whether the purported father is the biological father of the child. The results of the test are usually revealed to the parties involved. If a paternity test is ordered by a court, a court order may require a party to submit to a paternity test. If a party fails to comply with the court order, they may be held in contempt of court. The results of the court ordered paternity test may be used as evidence in court proceedings such as child support cases. Aside from paternity tests, a putative father may acknowledge paternity by signing a voluntary declaration of paternity. A voluntary declaration of paternity creates a legal duty to support the child, and the signature must be witnessed by two individuals. In some cases, a putative father may also be required to pay child support even if they are not the biological father of the child. Therefore, it is important to understand the fact that acknowledging paternity may result in legal obligations.

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What if I am not sure if I am the father of a child?

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