North Dakota Paternity

There is no presumption that a mother has superior rights to parent a child than a father in North Dakota.  However, in order for a father to assert his rights, a paternity action needs to be commenced.  Any interested party can bring a paternity action in North Dakota – a father (or possible father), a mother, or even the State of North Dakota.  If you aren’t sure if you’re the biological father, you can still bring a paternity action and request a genetic test as part of your pleadings.

If you want to ensure your rights as a father are protected, it’s important to speak to an attorney because there are important timelines contained in North Dakota paternity laws.  Once paternity is established in North Dakota, a father can ask the Court to address residential responsibility, parenting time, tax dependency issues, and child support requirements.