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 Kentucky, paternity is the legal recognition of a man as the father of a child. The state presumes that a husband is the father of a child born to his wife during their marriage. This presumption can be challenged, however, and the court may order genetic testing to determine biological paternity. Establishing paternity is crucial for child support obligations, inheritance rights, and the child's eligibility for certain benefits. Kentucky's statutes regarding the establishment and rebuttal of paternity are found in the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS), particularly in the sections related to family law. If paternity is in question, either party may initiate a legal action to establish or contest paternity, and the court will consider the evidence presented, which may include genetic testing results, to make a determination.