Are there any consequences for a father who fails to establish paternity?

In Washington, if a father fails to establish paternity, there can be several consequences. Paternity must be established if the father wishes to receive any legal rights, responsibilities, or privileges associated with being a father. Under Washington law, if a father fails to establish paternity, he will not have any rights to custody or visitation of the child, and he will not be allowed to make decisions concerning the child’s medical, educational, or legal needs. He will also be unable to benefit from the child’s potential future income, including inheritance. The father may be responsible for paying child support if paternity is established after the child’s birth. If paternity is not established within a reasonable amount of time, the father may be denied the right to contest a later claim for child support in a court of law. In addition, if the father fails to establish paternity, a man other than the father may be legally recognized as the child’s father in Washington. This man may receive all the rights and privileges associated with being the legal parent of the child. For these reasons, it is important for a father to establish paternity in Washington. If he fails to do so, he risks losing out on the rights and privileges associated with being a father, and he may be denied the ability to contest a later claim for child support.

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Are there any consequences for a father who fails to establish paternity?

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