Paternity is legal fatherhood—and establishing it is one of the most important steps in the child support process. A man is generally presumed to be the father of children born to his wife during their marriage. The presumption of the husband’s paternity can be rebutted through court-ordered genetic testing. The circumstances under which paternity is presumed vary from state to state, and are usually included in a state’s statutes—often in the statutes grouped together and known as the family code.
In Arkansas, paternity is the legal recognition of a man as the father of a child. The state presumes that a man is the father of a child if the child is born during his marriage to the mother. This presumption can be challenged and potentially overturned with the aid of court-ordered genetic testing. Establishing paternity is crucial for matters such as child support, custody, and visitation rights. Arkansas law outlines the specific circumstances and procedures for establishing or contesting paternity in the Arkansas Code under Title 9, which pertains to Family Law. The statutes provide various methods for establishing paternity, including voluntary acknowledgment by the parents or a court determination, which may involve genetic testing. It is important for individuals involved in paternity disputes or seeking to establish paternity to consult with an attorney to understand their rights and obligations under Arkansas law.