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 Missouri, paternity is the legal recognition of a man as the father of a child. The state presumes that a man is the legal father of a child if the child is born during his marriage to the mother. This presumption can be challenged, however, and may be rebutted by evidence such as court-ordered genetic testing. If a child is born out of wedlock, paternity can be established voluntarily by both parents signing an Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity or through a court order. The process of establishing paternity is crucial for matters such as child support, custody, and visitation rights. Missouri's statutes regarding paternity can be found in the state's family code, which outlines the specific conditions and procedures for establishing or contesting paternity.