PATERNITY SUIT

A lawsuit, usually brought by the mother of a child, to prove that a named person is the biological father of her child.  Paternity may be proved by evidence provided during testimony about sexual relations between the woman and alleged father, evidence of a relationship of the couple during the time of the pregnancy, completion of blood tests and DNA evidence, admissions of fatherhood, comparison of the child in looks, eye and hair color, race. 

Not only does proof of paternity give the child a known biological father, it leads to the right to child support, birthing expenses and the child's inheritance from its father.