Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

paternity suit

noun

pəˈtərnɪti sjuːt

Definition

A legal action or proceeding in which the paternity of a child is established, typically regarding child support or custody issues.

Examples

After the DNA test results, he was relieved to finally resolve the paternity suit.
She filed a paternity suit to ensure that the father contributes to the child’s upbringing.
The paternity suit brought to light many family secrets that had been kept for years.

Meaning

A paternity suit is a legal case initiated to determine whether a specific man is the biological father of a child, often for the purposes of seeking child support or establishment of paternal rights.