This document is a list of clauses used in paternity matters. The clauses include establishing a trust for housing for the child, DNA testing to establish paternity, security of children, support of the mother on a voluntary basis, and a clause to prohibit the mother from contacting the father.
New Jersey Paternity Provisions: Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities In New Jersey, paternity provisions refer to the set of laws and regulations that govern the establishment, determination, and enforcement of a child's legal father. These provisions play a crucial role in ensuring that children have access to financial support, emotional care, and inheritance rights from their biological fathers. Establishing paternity not only benefits the child but also provides fathers with legal rights to parenthood. Under New Jersey law, there are several ways to establish paternity, including: 1. Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity: This process involves both unmarried parents signing a legal document called the Certificate of Parentage (COP). By signing this document, both parties agree that the man is the child's father, and his name is legally added to the birth certificate. The COP can be signed at the hospital, the local registrar's office, or through the Office of Child Support Services. 2. Paternity Testing: In cases where the parents disagree on the child's biological father, genetic testing can be conducted to determine paternity. The court may order DNA testing, which compares the genetic material of the child, mother, and alleged father. Laboratories accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AAB) perform these tests. If the results show a probability of paternity higher than 95%, the court will establish the man as the legal father. 3. Administrative Paternity Order: The New Jersey Department of Human Services can also establish paternity administratively. If a child or custodial parent receives certain state benefits, such as Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANK), and the biological father's identity is unknown or unconfirmed, the department may initiate administrative paternity proceedings. Once paternity is established, it grants rights and responsibilities to both the child and the father. Some key aspects covered by New Jersey's paternity provisions include: — Child Support: Once paternity is established, the father becomes legally responsible for providing financial support to the child. Child support is typically determined based on the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines and is calculated considering the income and expenses of both parents. — Custody and Visitation Rights: A legal father has the right to seek custody or visitation with his child. If the parents cannot agree on their own, the court will use the best interests of the child standard to determine custody arrangements. — Inheritance Rights: Establishing paternity ensures that a child has a legal right to inherit from their father and vice versa. — Health Insurance and Benefits: Once paternity is established, a child may be eligible for health insurance coverage through the father's employer or other benefits, such as Social Security survivor benefits. It is important to note that New Jersey Paternity Provisions aim to protect the interests of the child, the biological father, and the custodial parent. Seeking legal advice from an experienced family law attorney is highly advisable to ensure compliance with the relevant laws and to protect one's rights and responsibilities throughout the paternity establishment process. Keywords: New Jersey, paternity provisions, child support, legal father, voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, paternity testing, administrative paternity order, custody, visitation rights, inheritance rights, health insurance, legal rights, responsibilities, family law.
