Paternity Proving(¹)

Abstract

Court procedures on paternity proving are a social problem in many countries. For instance, in Poland about a twelve thousand cases of disputed paternity come before the courts each year. The recognition of the true father is of significance both for the child’s good, as well as for the good of the defendant male. The recognition of the child’s father by the court entitles to set up alimentation and property claims in the name of the child. The rights of the child to set up such claims result from the conviction that the father and the mother should care for the bringing up of the child and ensure suitable material conditions for it. On the other hand a false recognition of paternity causes moral harm to the defendant, and may give rise to serious complications in his private life and also may cause, not only him, but also members of his family to sustain a material loss (for instance in case of legacy division).