First, establishing paternity can allow you to better provide for your child’s needs. A family court judge can order child support payments, which go towards providing basics necessities, such as food, clothing, and shelter. Child support can also be used for extra educational expenses or to cover the costs of your child’s hobbies, like Little League registration fees or dance lessons. Your child may receive funds for support from the father’s military allowance, if applicable.

The benefits also extend to your child’s health. A judge can order parents to provide health insurance, by adding the child to an employer-sponsored program or purchasing it privately. For instance, if the father has a family health insurance plan available from his workplace, the judge may direct him to enroll the child. Health insurance is not the only possible benefit, however. When he is older, your child may need information about his family history of certain health problems. Your daughter might need to know that her aunt or grandmother died of an aggressive form of breast cancer so that she can take precautions for her own health.

Your child will also be eligible for certain benefits when his father dies, depending on the circumstances. He may be able to inherit from his father, even if there is no will. Your child could receive life insurance proceeds and Social Security benefits, as well.

From your child’s perspective, knowing the identity of both of his parents can instill a sense of who he is. The father and his family can provide emotional and familial ties well beyond the financial incentives to establish paternity. The decision to pursue paternity is one best made by reflecting on your child’s interests and in consultation with an attorney who can assist you in the process.

If you are going through a divorce in the south Florida area, contact Carolann Mazza, P.A. for your free consultation today. From her office in Fort Lauderdale, Ms. Mazza serves Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Contact Carolann Mazza today at 954-527-4604. The office is located at 1040 Bayview Dr., Suite 605, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33304.