Paternity Issues Aren't Going Away Soon

 Birthrate of Unwed Mothers Continues to Rise

In 2010, 40.8% of all births were to 'unwed females'  according to the National Center for Health Statistics.  They reported that "the proportion of births to unmarried women has increased without interruption from 1997 through 2009.  This level comparies with 33.2 percent in 2000, and 18.4 percent in 1980.  Within age groups, 87 percent of births to teenagers and 62 percent of births to women aged 20-24 were nonmarital.  One in five births to women aged 30 and over were to unmarried women."

In Michigan, there were 48,406 births to unmarried women in 2009 (the most recently reported statistics of births / unwed females).  25,724 of these birth were report to be with 'white' females; 17,669 to 'black' females; and 4,067 to 'hispanic' females.

With these kinds of statistics, it is clear that the issues involved with paternity are not going away soon; likely never.   Even with the 'legal father' being identified and acknowledged by an Affidavit of Parentage,  the legal issues of 'legal & physical custody,' 'visitation / parenting time,' 'child support,' and the other child-related issues of a new-born child will need to be addressed for literally each of these children.

As the caption says: 'Paternity Issues Aren't Going Away Soon.'  So long as we continue to have children with unmarried parents, there will always be legal issues that need to be resolved -ie.  determination of 'legal father,' child-custody, visitation / parenting time, child-support, and other child-related issues of a new born child.