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 Iowa, 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 use of court-ordered genetic testing. Establishing paternity is crucial for matters such as child support, custody, and visitation rights. Iowa's statutes regarding the establishment and presumption of paternity can be found in the Iowa Code, particularly in sections dealing with domestic relations and the family code. These laws outline the procedures for establishing paternity both voluntarily, through the signing of an affidavit of paternity, and involuntarily, through court proceedings. The Iowa Department of Human Services also plays a role in paternity establishment as part of the child support process.