Do You Have Doubts That You Are the Father?
Every year in Utah, many men are stuck paying child support for a child that is not their own. This is a fear for some singles and, if you truly do not believe that you are the father of a child, you should speak up and make your claim to legal authorities. If you are cooperative with the system, your name can be cleared and you will not have to pay child support.
Child support is the responsibility of the parent who does not have physical custody. Paying child support does not guarantee that a person will have some type of custody or visitation rights, simply that you are fulfilling your obligation to care for the child. Parents of children are equally responsible for their-wellbeing, and child support helps to keep parents accountable. Though it is a good system, paying child support is not your obligation if you are not the father.
The court system will not assume that you are not the father simply by your word alone. If you do make a claim to the child, paternity is easily established. If you deny being the father, you will need to submit to a paternity test to verify your claim. The court can arrange this.
The court can name you the father if you do not respond to solicitations or cooperate. For this reason, it is very important to work with court officials and not against them. If you have additional questions, speaking with an experienced attorney could be beneficial.
