Paternity can be accurately determined through DNA testing. Paternity establishes a child's legitimacy and, when in doubt, establishing paternity may be a vital factor for the court in ordering child support. This is especially true when a couple is gets divorced, but it can even be true, if the couple was never married.

Accurate paternity information can also be extremely helpful in providing for a child's medical care, should disease or other genetically related disorders unfortunately become an issue. Paternity and legitimization may also benefit the child emotionally and socially. Family relationships develop as a child discovers siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins that may otherwise have never been known.

If you have a paternity issue, the experienced attorneys at Meriwether & Tharp can help you. Please call our office at 678-879-9000 or e-mail us at familylaw@mtlawoffice.com to schedule an appointment with a lawyer on our family law team. Consultations are charged at our normal hourly rate.