To establish paternity in Guam, what is required?

To establish paternity in Guam, the requirement is a court order or an acknowledgment of paternity. This legal framework is designed to provide a reliable method for determining who is the legal father of a child, which is crucial for issues related to child support, custody, and inheritance rights.

Acknowledgment of paternity is a voluntary process where both parents can sign a document affirming that a man is the father of a child. This signed acknowledgment becomes an official record, allowing for the establishment of paternity without the need for further legal proceedings.

Alternatively, a court order may be necessary if there is disagreement regarding paternity or if a formal determination is required for legal reasons. The court will review evidence, which may include testimony, documentation, and possibly DNA results, to make its determination.

While DNA testing can be a method to establish paternity, it is typically part of the process to support evidence submitted to the court rather than a standalone requirement for establishing legal paternity. A birth certificate alone does not establish paternity unless it has been accompanied by an acknowledgment or order. Consent from both parents is certainly important, but it is the formal acknowledgment or court order that serves as the legal mechanism behind establishing paternity in Guam.