The Basics of Establishing Paternity in Missouri
Statistics show that about forty percent of children in America are born out-of-wedlock. These children still have a right to have their father involved in their lives. Unmarried fathers, however, are often unsure what steps they need to take to establish custody and visitation rights to their children. Unmarried fathers in Missouri need to file a paternity action to ensure their custody rights are protected. Merely being listed on a child’s birth certificate does not grant a father enforceable custody rights. Why should Missouri fathers establish paternity? It is valuable for fathers to establish paternity for several reasons. First and