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 Washington State, paternity, or legal fatherhood, is crucial in the context of child support and parental rights. A man is presumed to be the biological 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. Washington's laws regarding the presumption of paternity and the process for establishing or disputing paternity are codified in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), particularly in the sections related to family law. If a man is not married to the mother at the time of the child's birth, paternity can be established voluntarily through a Paternity Acknowledgment form or through legal proceedings. Establishing paternity is essential for determining child support obligations, inheritance rights, and the child's eligibility for certain benefits.