Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: stated capital
A paternity action is when a court decides if a person is the father of a child who was born when the parents were not married. Usually, the mother starts this process to get child support. It is also called a paternity suit, parentage action, bastardy proceeding, or bastardy process.
A paternity action, also known as a paternity suit or parentage action, is a legal process to determine whether a person is the biological father of a child, especially if the child was born out of wedlock. This process is usually initiated by the mother to obtain child support from the father.
These examples illustrate how a paternity action is a legal process initiated by the mother to establish the biological father of a child and obtain child support.