Paternity Issues

Your ability to establish paternity may depend on the circumstances under which your child was born. In Michigan, when a child is born or conceived during a marriage, the husband is automatically presumed to be the father of the child. This is not the case if a child is born outside of a marriage, or to unmarried individuals. In this instance, the mother and the father of the child must take certain steps to establish paternity. We have highlighted some of the most important paternity issues you may need to consider, depending on your particular circumstances, in addition to some of the questions associated with this topic. Click on a question to learn more, and, as always, contact our Family Law Division with any additional questions or concerns you may have.

Establishing Paternity Under Michigan Law

  • What is the Michigan Paternity Act?
  • I want to start a paternity action. How do I begin?
  • What is an Order of Filiation?

Acknowledgement of Parentage Act

Paternity and Adoption Issues