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 Kansas, paternity, or legal fatherhood, is a crucial element in the child support process. Under Kansas law, a man is presumed to be 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. The specific conditions under which paternity is presumed are outlined in the Kansas statutes, particularly within the provisions that constitute the state's family code. These statutes detail the process for establishing, disputing, and acknowledging paternity, and they provide the legal framework for addressing paternity issues in the context of child support and parental rights.