Paternity is the legal determination of fatherhood. In Arizona, paternity may be presumed by law, acknowledged voluntarily, or established by court order. The method of establishment affects the legal rights and obligations that follow.

Presumed paternity arises when a man is married to the child's mother at the time of birth.

Voluntary acknowledgment of paternity through the state's administrative process creates legal paternity without a court proceeding. It can be rescinded within a short period but becomes binding after that window closes.

Court-established paternity through a paternity action is the definitive legal determination. It is required when paternity is disputed or when the voluntary processes are not available or not appropriate. Once established by court order paternity creates enforceable rights to parenting time and enforceable obligations for support if the proper papers are filed in court. Having paternity does not give the father automatic rights to see or make decisions for the child. See discussion about Putative Father’s Registry in Arizona in the above definition of Paternity Action.