Presumption of paternity

{{Short description|Concept in family law and common law}}

Presumption of paternity in paternity law and common law is the legal determination that a man is "presumed to be" a child's biological father without additional supportive evidence, usually as a result of marriage.

Generally associated with marriage,

{{Cite web|url=http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/Books/lbb/x650.htm |title=The Presumption of Legitimacy |publisher=biotech.law.lsu.edu}}

a presumption of paternity can also be made by court order, contact over time with a child, or simple cohabitation with the mother.

{{ cite news | url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/fla1975114/s69q.html | location= Australasian Legal Information Institute | title= Family Law Act 1975 - SECT 69Q | date= 1975 | first= Commonwealth of | last= Australia }}

If there is no presumption of paternity, a process such as recognition may be used to establish paternity.