Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A Bastardy Process is when a court decides if a man is the father of a child who was born when the parents were not married. This usually happens when the mother wants the father to pay child support. It is also called a Paternity Suit or Paternity Action.
Definition: A legal process, also known as a paternity suit, used to determine whether a person is the father of a child born out of wedlock. This process is usually initiated by the mother in order to obtain child support from the father.
Examples:
These examples illustrate how the bastardy process, or paternity suit, is used to legally establish the father of a child and obtain child support. It is often initiated by the mother, but can also be requested by the alleged father in order to prove or disprove paternity.