What is the purpose of a paternity action?

Paternity actions can be brought for several reasons. A father might bring a paternity action who is seeking to establish custody and parenting time. And a mother might bring a paternity action who’s looking to receive some child support. A child can also bring a paternity action who is looking to establish a parental relationship with a father and the state can bring a paternity action in order to obtain reimbursement for public assistance that the state has expended.