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 Washington State, there are a few important steps you should take. You can determine paternity through genetic testing, which will compare your DNA to the DNA of the mother and child. This can be done through a court order or under the voluntary Washington State Support Registry (WSSR). If you choose to use the WSSR, you can voluntarily submit a DNA sample. If there is a confirmed match, you will be the father of the child and will have legal obligations as such. If there is no match, however, you will not be the father of the child and will not have any legal responsibility or rights related to the child. In Washington, the mother can also take legal action if the paternity of the child is in question. She can file an action in the Superior Court of Washington seeking a court order to require genetic testing for paternity. If the court rules in favor of the mother, you will be legally required to submit a DNA sample for comparison. In summary, if you are unsure if you are the father of a child in Washington State, the best way to determine paternity is to undergo genetic testing. This can be done voluntarily through the Washington State Support Registry, or it can be court-ordered if the mother files for an action.

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

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