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 Nebraska, 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 in court, where genetic testing may be ordered to determine biological paternity. If a child is born outside of marriage, paternity can be established voluntarily by both parents signing an acknowledgment of paternity or through a court order. Nebraska's statutes regarding paternity are found in the Nebraska Revised Statutes, specifically in sections dealing with family law. Establishing paternity is crucial for matters such as child support, custody, visitation rights, and inheritance.