In this article, our Bettendorf paternity attorneys explain Iowa Paternity Law. When a child is born to a married couple, the husband is automatically considered the legal father, and the rights of the mother and father are clear.  If a child is born to an unmarried couple, there are three ways to establish paternity in the state of Iowa.  The first option is for the couple to fill out a “paternity affidavit” form, which is commonly provided by the hospital in which the child is born.  Another option is to have paternity established via a paternity order issued by the Iowa Department of Human Services (Office of Child Support Recovery Services, or CSRA) or a judge of the circuit court.  The final option is for the couple to get married, but this must occur before the arrival of the baby for paternity to be legally established with no further action required.

Our Bettendorf paternity lawyers discuss the establishment of paternity by consent at birth which is also known as voluntary acknowledgment of paternity. When children born to patents who are unmarried, hospitals and midwives are required to provide the parents with the forms that allow the parents to easily establish paternity by mutual consent, assuming that both parents agree.  These forms include:

• A petition to declare paternity by consent; and
• An agreed order to be entered by the court in which the petition is filed, which will establish paternity.

Read the full article by our Bettendorf paternity attorneys explaining how to establish paternity by consent.

‍

In this article, our Bettendorf paternity attorneys discuss paternity fraud in Bettendorf paternity matters and explain what a "presumed father" is. If there is a "presumed father," as defined by the Illinois Parentage Act, there is a a higher burden of proof that must be shown to show the opposite.

In Illinois, a "presumed father" is considered if any of the following are true:

• You were married to the child's mother, in a civil union, or in a substantially similar relationship at the time of birth;
• You were in a marriage, civil union, or a substantially similar relationship that was terminated within 300 days prior to the child being born;
• You were in an invalid marriage or civil union at the time of birth or within 300 days prior to the time of birth, which was entered into in apparent compliance with the law;
• You married the child's mother after the birth of the child and are listed as the child's father on the birth certificate.  

Read more by our Bettendorf paternity lawyers explaining the cause of action against paternity fraud in Bettendorf paternity cases.

‍