Paternity in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

Establishing paternity means legally determining the father of a child. Establishing paternity creates a legal relationship between a father and child, which is necessary for, among other things, visitation rights, social security, disability, or veteran’s benefits for the child if the father dies or becomes disabled, inheritance, medical or insurance benefits, and child support.

Paternity may be established voluntarily by both parents or through genetic testing. Genetic testing typically involves passing a swab along the inside of the inner facial cheek for a saliva sample.

Contact the attorneys at Patel & Williams, PLLC, if you have a question regarding paternity issues in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.